| Unit name | The Archaeology of Ritual and Religion |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCH30020 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Prior |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit examines how archaeological definitions of and approaches to ritual and religion have changed over time, and considers the continuing appeal of ritual interpretations to archaeologists. A series of case studies drawn from a variety of prehistoric and historic societies in Britain, Europe and other parts of the world will be used to critically assess the archaeological evidence for such practices in detail; whilst the usefulness of literary and ethnographic evidence to inform archaeological interpretations for ritual and religious practices will also be considered. Topics covered may include: changing definitions and approaches to ritual and religion; the role of ritual specialists and ideology; ‘mundane ritual’ in small-scale societies; ‘official versus’ ‘unofficial’ beliefs; the significance and symbolism of plants and animals; the role of the senses in ritual practices; and death and burial. The archaeological periods and areas encompassed by this module may include Neolithic Anatolia; Neolithic Britain and NW Europe; Bronze Age Britain and NW Europe; Iron Age Britain and NW Europe; Roman Britain and the Roman Empire; pre-Hispanic Meso-America; and medieval and post-medieval Britain.
This unit aims to provide students with: a critical comprehension of the nature of rituals and religions and critical approaches to them; familiarity with common themes and traditions in rituals and religions; the social and ideological implications of rituals and religions; a sound and critical knowledge of ritual practices in a variety of prehistoric and historic societies in Britain and Ireland, Europe and some other regions of the world; an appreciation of the problems and potentials of archaeological approaches to ritual and religion; a thorough awareness of the roles of material culture, sensual experience and the importance and symbolism of plants and animals to ritual and religious practices and ideologies, and the way that these can be explored through archaeological evidence and ethnographic analogy.
Students completing this unit students will: have a detailed familiarity of previous academic definitions and discussions of ritual and religion and the key thinkers involved and will acquire a detailed understanding of models of ideology and practice for ritual and religious activities (via attendance of lectures & group seminar sessions); be able to critically evaluate from a variety of theoretical perspectives the archaeological evidence for ritual and religious practices and ideologies in different periods and regions and the interpretations that can be drawn from that evidence (tested via the successful completion of x2 carefully targeted essays along with participation in student seminar groups); have a detailed familiarity with the archaeological evidence for ritual and religious practices and ideologies in different periods and regions, and the interpretations that can be drawn from that evidence (again tested via the successful completion of x2 carefully targeted essays along with participation in student seminar groups).
One 2hr lecture per week (=20hrs) + two 1hr tutorials across the unit.
Two 3000-3500 word essays ( = 50% of the total unit mark each).
Bell, C. 1992. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Bradley, R. 2005. Ritual and Domestic Life in Prehistoric Europe. London: Routledge. Kreinath, J., Snoek, J. and M. Stausberg (eds.) 2006. Theorizing Rituals, Issues, Topics, Approaches, Concepts. Leiden: Brill. Insoll, T. 2004. Archaeology, Ritual, Religion. London: Routledge. Merrifield, R. 1987. The Archaeology of Ritual and Magic. London: Batsford. Rappaport, R.A. 1999. Ritual and Religion in the Making of Humanity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
