Bi8611 Palaeoethnology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2014
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Sandra Sázelová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Holub (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Jiří Svoboda, DrSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Svoboda, DrSc.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Sandra Sázelová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 9:00–10:50 Bp1
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The main objectives of this course and related research line is to define the theoretical bases of reconstructing past human societies and evolution of human behavior, with emphasis on the indigenous hunter-gatherer and nomadic societies. Our approach combines basic principles of ethology, evolutionary psychology and behavioral ecology. In detail, we focus on interdisciplinary analysis and interpretation of selected "model areas" from the point of view of archaeology and ethnoarchaeology. At the end of course, students should be able to: distinguish between and define the main disciplines - ethology, evolutionary psychology, behavioral ecology, ethnology/ethography, ethnoarcheology and paleoethnology; recognize and interpret the traces of past settlement clusters in the landscape; interpret the preserved artifacts in the context of production processes and nourishment strategies; describe symbolism and religious rituals; analyze the contacts between populations and ethnics.
Syllabus
  • 1.Terminological definitions: ethology, evolutionary psychology, behavioral ecology, ethnology/ethnography, ethnoarchaeology and paleoethnology; history of research and basic theories; methods (fieldwork, literary studies, collections, experiment); models and their application.
  • 2. Human behavior I: nature vs. nurture; self-identification, cooperation, altruism, competition, aggression; kin selection; altered states of consciousness.
  • 3. Human behavior II: ethnicity; theories of cultural changes, acculturation; cultural "bumpers" and barriers.
  • 4.-5. Experimental approach (theoretical and practical frame).
  • 6.-7. Artifacts and production processes; artifacts from organic and inorganic materials; description and documentation of production processes (chaȋne opératoire) and traseology.
  • 8. Human societies in landscape I: space and time concepts; settlement analysis, seasonality, territoriality, orientation in the landscapes and construction of ´cognitive maps´.
  • 9. Human societies in landscape II: Nourishment and economic strategies (hunter-gatherers, fishers, herdsmen, farmers), ecological sustainability
  • 10. Beginnings of religion - history of research and basic theories (primitive atheism, animism, totemism, manism, magic thinking, shamanism/neoshamanism/paleoshamanism); symbolism and rituals.
  • 11.-12. Ethnoarchaeology in practice: Selected examples
Literature
    required literature
  • Barret, L., Dunbar, R., Lycett, J. 2007: Evoluční psychologie člověka. Praha, Portál.
  • David, N., Kramer, C. 2001: Ethnoarchaeology in Action. New York, Cambridge University Press.
  • Dunbar, R. 2009: Příběh rodu Homo. Praha, Academia.
  • Eibl-Eibesfeldt, I. 1989: Human ethology. New York, Aldine de Gruyter.
  • Lorenz, K. 1992: Takzvané zlo. Praha, Mladá Fronta.
  • Svoboda, J. 1999: Čas lovců. Brno, Archeologický ústav AVČR Brno.
  • Svoboda, J., Sázelová, S., Kosintsev, P. A., Jankovská, V., Holub, M. 2011: Resources and spatial analysis at actual Nenets campsites: Ethnoarchaeological implications. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 30 (1), 30 – 43.
  • Waal, F. de 2006: Dobráci od přírody. Praha, Academia.
  • Wilson, E. O. 1993: O lidské přirozenosti. Praha, Nakladatelství Lidové Noviny.
    recommended literature
  • Binford, L. R. 1978: Nunamiut Ethnoarchaeology. New York, Academic Press.
  • Boyd, R., Richerson, P. J. 2012: V genech není všechno. Praha, Academia.
  • Dawkins, R. 1999: Sobecký gen. Praha, Mladá Fronta.
  • Ingold, T. 2000: The perception of the enviroment: Essays on livehood, dwelling and skill. London – New York, Routledge.
  • Jelínek, J. 2006: Střecha nad hlavou. Kořeny nejstarší architektury a bydlení. Brno, Vutium.
  • Komárek, S. 2000: Příroda a kultura. Praha, Academia.
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation in the form of lectures accompanied by discussion with students.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with a written test and oral exam (in order to pass the entrance test and proceed to the oral exam, the student must attain 75 % of possible test points). To pass the exam successfully the student must prove good knowledge of the issues discussed during lectures and in the required reading.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2014, recent)
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