HU Credits: 2

Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master)

Responsible Department: Archaeology & Ancient near East

Semester: 1st Semester

Teaching Languages: Hebrew

Campus: Mt. Scopus

Course/Module Coordinator: Dr. Uri Davidovich

Coordinator Email: uri.davidovich@mail.huji.ac.il

Coordinator Office Hours: By appointment

Teaching Staff:
Dr. Uri Davidovich

Course/Module description:
Archaeological research of natural caves is generally associated with prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies. Following the Neolithic Revolution, the cave use patterns underwent dramatic changes, and caves began to serve a variety of non-residential needs within the framework of complex societies. This stage witnessed the beginning of use of a new type of cave - complex caves spanning hundreds of meters or more - which pose numerous challenges related to movement, spatial orientation, unusual environmental conditions, and fear of the unknown. The course deals with the understanding and analysis of the remains of human activities in complex caves, while emphasizing the chronological, functional, social and cognitive aspects of these activities from the Neolithic period onwards.

Course/Module aims:
• Clarifying the contribution of complex caves to the study of complex societies, while discussing various activity patterns using test-cases from the Levant (and worldwide).
• In-depth knowledge of the subterranean environment and its archaeological remains.
• Discussion of the methodological difficulties faced in deciphering the nature of activities in complex caves in their social context.

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• To present the contribution of caves to the study of complex societies in the Levant and worldwide.
• To engage with high-register archaeological discourse.
• To present a topic to a professional audience.

Attendance requirements(%):
85

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Frontal presentation of subjects, critical reading of reading assignments, short presentation by students, open classroom discussions.

Course/Module Content:
- Caves and the subterranean sphere: paradigms and methodology.
- Levantine geology and "provinces" of complex caves.
- History of cave research in the Levant, and field methods in caves.
- Main periods of activity in complex caves, between the Pottery Neolithic and the Early Roman period.
- Functions of complex caves: burial, ritual, refuge.
- Cognitive aspects of activity in complex caves.
- Activity patterns in complex caves in their social context.

Required Reading:
For details see Moodle website of the course: https://moodle2.cs.huji.ac.il/nu20/course/view.php?id&eq;43804

Additional Reading Material:
For details see Moodle website of the course: https://moodle2.cs.huji.ac.il/nu20/course/view.php?id&eq;43804

Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 20 %
Participation in Tutorials 10 %
Project work 70 %
Assignments 0 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 0 %

Additional information:
* The participation grade will be assessed based on attendance, prominence in the classroom, and quality of reading.
** During the semester, each student will present a test-case or research thesis in a short presentation (15-20 minutes).
*** At the end of the semester, each student will submit a 10-page paper (not including illustrations and bibliography) on a subject of his choice, in coordination with the course instructor. The subject may be theoretical, practical-research or synthetic, and combine processing of archaeological materials or data analysis.