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Prehistory of Catalonia

Code: 100380
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Archaeology OP 4
History OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Anna Maria Bach Gómez
Email :
anna.bach.gomez@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Anna Maria Bach Gómez

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required, but knowledge of the geography of Catalonia is very useful.

Objectives

The study, review of the evidence of the prehistoric settlement in the current territory of Catalonia and the closest regions, in order to know the cultural, socioeconomic evolution from the first settlement to the formation
of the Iberian societies. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical contributions update, the latest developments in research, and the status of the issue and historical interpretation within the active dynamics of current
research. The global nature of the territory is reviewed, exposing the most relevant scenarios of prehistoric archaeology in the wide geographical areas of the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. In this sense, research
projects under development give the key issues of human development (social dynamics of hunter-gatherer societies, the emergence of the first farming societies, first states formation). It will also address issues of
historical-archaeological and heritage to the general public of the Catalan archaeological record. It is intended that students know which are the main questions that Catalan prehistoric archaeology have at this time, and
what are the most significant discoveries and historical-archaeological findings that define each debate.

Learning outcomes

  1. Effectively expressing themselves and applying the argumentative and textual processes of formal and scientific texts.
  2. Identifying the context of the historical processes.
  3. Using the specific interpretational and technical vocabulary of the discipline.
  4. Recognising the importance of controlling the quality of the work's results and its presentation.
  5. Applying both knowledge and analytical skills to the resolution of problems related to their area of study.
  6. Transmitting the results of archaeological research and clearly communicating conclusions in oral and written form to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  7. Effectively communicating and applying the argumentative and textual processes to formal and scientific texts.
  8. Identifying the specific methods of history and their relationship with the analysis of particular facts.
  9. Using the specific technical and interpretational vocabulary of the discipline.
  10. Recognising the importance of controlling the quality of the work results and their presentation.
  11. Applying both knowledge and capacity for analysis to the resolution of problems related to the field of study.

Contents

Block 1. Introduction and general concepts
- History of research, School of Barcelona and the dynamics of the 70's.
- Administrative structure related to the practice of prehistoric archeology in Catalonia
- Approach to the current state of the research and the study of prehistoric archeology in Catalonia - Main
methodological tendencies
Block 2. Study of the first hunters - gatherers
- Hunter-gatherers societies in the the Lower Paleolithic
- Hunter-gatherers societies in the Middle Paleolithic
- Hunter-gatherers in the Epipaleolithic
- Rock Art evidences in Catalonia
Block 3. Transition to first's farmers' societies
- Transition: Hunter-gatherers \"versus\" farmers
- First farmers' settlements: The Ancient Neolithic
- The golden age of the Catalan Neolithic: the Middle Neolithic
-Consolidation of the new economic system
- Funerary practices of the first farmer communities
- The megalithic phenomenon in Catalonia


Block 4. Consolidation and transformation of the farmer's societies


- The first metals and Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic
- Development of the first half of II on millennium: Chalcolithic - Early Bronze
- The dark period of the Catalan prehistory: the Middle Bronze Age
- Innovation and / or continuity in the middle of the 2nd millennium
- Funerary practices at the beginning of the Second Millennium: Southern Catalonia
Block 5. I st Millennium Complex Societies
- The transformations at the end of the second millennium and the first quarter of the I Millennium: Late Bronze
Age.
- New burial forms: incineration
- Late Bronze Age: Innovation and economic dynamism
- Debate about the Iron Age introduction in Catalonia
-Early Iron Age Societies and Iberization process

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theoretical classes led by faculty 50 2 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10
Faculty-led seminar and practice sessions 6 0.24 1, 3, 5, 6, 10
Mentoring 6 0.24 10
data processing 17 0.68 3, 4, 5, 9, 10

GUIDED ACTIVITY -40% Learning: Lectures with ICT support and large group discussion. -Seminar sessions and practices led by the teaching staff. 10% Teaching-learning methodology: Introduction of the session, presentation of the text, assessment and collective critical discussion. Individual and/or group presentations and round of assessments.

SUPERVISED ACTIVITY 10% - Tutoring. 8% Teaching-learning methodology: Arranged sessions to resolve doubts and hold discussions on specific content of the subject, problems and seminars.

-Realization of structured learning exercises. 2% Teaching-learning methodology: Realization and correction of structured learning exercises.

AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITY 50% - Personal study. 30% Teaching-learning methodology: Integration of acquired knowledge. Creation of diagrams, conceptual maps, summaries.

-Reading texts. Writing of works. Preparation of oral comments and seminars. Bibliographic information search. 20%

Note: 15 minutes of a class will be set aside, within the calendar established by the center/degree, for students to fill in the teacher performance and subject evaluation surveys /module.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Case study: Analysis of the Catalan archaeological record 40% 3 0.12 1, 3, 5, 6
Analysis of the historical process on a temporal scale 40% 56 2.24 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10
Analysis of the material remains of Catalonia's past 20% 12 0.48 7, 10, 11

Assessment System for the Acquisition of Competencies and Grading Criteria

Directed learning activities account for 50% of the coursework. These will be assessed through written examinations and will represent 40% of the final grade.

Supervised activities account for 40% of the coursework (including field trips, attendance at conferences, and tutorials) and will contribute 20% to the final grade.

They will also be assessed through classroom presentations and text discussions, which will account for 20% of the final grade.

Independent learning activities account for the remaining 10% of the coursework. These will be assessed through the submission of written assignments, which will contribute 20% to the final grade.

If a student commits any irregularity that may lead to a significant alteration of the assessment of an evaluation activity, that activity will be graded as 0 (zero), regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated. If multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the student's final grade for the course will be 0.

Assessment Schedule

At the beginning of the academic year, students will be informed of the specific content of each assessment module and the corresponding deadlines for completion and submission.

At the time each assessment activity is carried out or submitted, the teaching staff will provide information (via Moodle or SIA) regarding the grading review procedure and schedule.

Requirements to Pass the Course

  • Regular attendance and participation in class sessions.
  • Completion and submission of all assessment modules within the established deadlines.
  • Achieving an overall average grade of at least 5.0 out of 10, provided that a minimum grade of 3.5 out of 10 has been obtained in each individual assessment module.

Students who submit less than 30% of the assessment activities will receive the final grade of "Not Assessable" (NA).

Exchange students requesting to take an examination earlier than scheduled must provide the lecturer with an official written document from their home university justifying the request.

Resit Assessment

Students may take the resit assessment provided they meet the following requirements:

  • They have completed the assessment activities within the established deadlines.
  • They have obtained an overall average score of no more than 3.5 on a 10 point scale across the assessment modules.

Resit Examination Schedule

The dates of the resit examinations are established by the Faculty. These dates are published on the Faculty's website in July of the preceding academic year. It is the student's responsibility to know the date assigned for the resit examination.

The final continuous assessment activity will be scheduled at least one week before the resit examination.

If examinations cannot be held on campus, their format will be adapted (while maintaining the same weighting) to the online tools provided by the UAB. Assignments, activities, and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis, and/or exercise discussions using Moodle, Teams, or similar platforms. The teaching staff will ensure that students have access to these resources or will provide alternative means whenever necessary.

Single Assessment

The single assessment consists of:

  • A written examination (60%).
  • A thematic written assignment (40%).

The written examination will take place on the dates established by the Faculty and will assess the entire course syllabus.

The guidelines and content of the written assignment will be established at the beginning of the course and will be available on the course Moodle site in the UAB Virtual Campus. The submission deadline will coincide with the date of the written examination.

NOTE ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

If a student commits any irregularity that may significantly affect the assessment of an evaluation activity, that activity will be graded as 0 (zero), regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated. If more than one irregularity occurs in the assessment activities of the same course, the student's final grade for the course will be 0.

NOTE ON THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted in this course as part of the development of coursework, provided that the final submission reflects a substantial personal contribution by the student in terms of analysis and critical reflection.

Students must:

  1. Clearly identify which parts of the work have been generated using AI.
  2. Specify the AI tools used.
  3. Include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced both the process and the final outcome of the assignment.

Failure to disclose the use of AI in an assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in the activity being graded as 0 (zero), with no possibility of resubmission or resit, and may lead to more severe disciplinary sanctions in serious cases.

Bibliography

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW:


BOSCH-GIMPERA P.(1919): Prehistòria Catalana. Enciclopedia Catalana, Vol. XVI. Barcelona 300 p.

BOSCH-GIMPERA P.(1932): Etnologia de la Península Iberica. Edt. Alpha,. Barcelona,p.711.

MALUQUER DE MOTES J.(1987): Historia de Catalunya, I: Prehistoria i Edat Antiga fins al segle III. Edt. 62, Barcelona.

SERRA - RÀFOLS, J. de C., (1930): El poblament prehistòric de Catalunya. Barcelona, 1930.

TARRADELL,M.(1963): Història dels Catalans I, Prehistòria i Antiguitat . Barcelona, 1963.

TARRADELL, M.(1962): Les arrels de Catalunya. Ed. Vicens-Vives. Barcelona, 1962.

AA.VV(1978): Història de Catalunya,

Vol I. [Coordinada per l'Institut d'Arqueologia i Prehistòria Universitat de Barcelona].Edt. Salvat. Barcelona

AA.VV(1982): Les excavacions arqueològiques a Catalunya en els darrers anys. Barcelona 1982.

AA.VV(1982): L'Arqueologia a Catalunya, avui. Generalitat de Catalunya Barcelona 1982.

MOLIST M. (1999). "Les primeres societats pageses (Neolític i Bronze Antic). in E. Giralt y J. M. Salrach,"Història agrària dels Països Catalans", Fundació Catalana per la Recerca.

AA.VV (1996): Els temps prehistòrics i antics. Fins al segle V. in Història. Política, Societat i Cultura dels Països Catalans. Vol.I. Enciclopèdia Catalana. Barcelona 1996.

CRUELLS, W, MOLIST, M. & PONS, E. (Coord) (2003). "Miguel Tarradell, 40 anys de les Arrels de Catalunya". Cota Zero. Revista d'Arqueologia i Ciència, 18. Eumo Editorial (desembre, 2003).



GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY:


CANAL, J., CARBONELL, E. (1989). Catalunya Paleolítica. Patronat Francesc Eiximenis.

RODRIGUEZ, X.P.; VAQUERO, M.; SALA, R.; GARCIA, J.; MAROTO; J.; ORTEGA, D.; LOZANO, M. (2003/4): “El paleolític inferior i mitjà a Catalunya”, a Fonaments 10/11, 23-66.

BOSCH, J. SANTACANA, J. (2009): Blat, metalls i cabdills Catalunya del neolític a la iberització. Rafael Dalmau editor.

MANGADO, X.;et al. (2011): “Nuevos territorios, nuevos grafismos: una visión del Paleolítico superior en Cataluña a inicios del siglo XXI” a Jornadas Internacionales sobre el Paleolítico superior peninsular. Novedades del siglo XXI. Barcelona

ROVIRA, M.C., LÓPEZ-CACHERO, F. J.; MAZIERE, F. (eds.) (2012): Les necròpolis d’incineració entre l’Ebre i el Tíber (segles IX-VI a.C.), Monografies del Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya-Barcelona 14, Barcelona.

GÓMEZ BACH, A., MOLIST, M. (ed.) (2016): La prehistòria al pla de Barcelona. Documents per a una nova síntesi, MUHBA Documents 11, Ajuntament de Barcelona.https://www.barcelona.cat/museuhistoria/sites/default/files/prehistoriaplabcn.pdf

BACH, A.; FÀBREGAS, L. MOLIST, M. coord. (2023). La cultura de Merlès revisada. La transició entre els períodes del Bronze Final i la Primera Edat del Ferro a la Catalunya Central i àrees veïnes. Museu de Solsona. https://museusolsona.cat/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/La-cultura-de-Merles.pdf

PARDO, S., GÓMEZ BACH, A., MOLIST, M., BERNABEU, J. Eds. (2020): Contextualizando la cerámica impressa: Horizontes culturales en la península Ibérica. Ed. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

GIBAJA, JF. CLOP, X. (2012): “El Neolítico en Cataluña”, a El Neolítico en la Península Ibérica y su contexto europeo. Ed. Cátedra, Madrid

GIBAJA, JF.; MOZOTA, M.; SUBIRÀ, M. E; MARTÍN, A. i MASCLANS, A. (coords.) 2022. Mirando a la Muerte: las prácticas funerarias durante el Neolítico en el nordeste peninsular. Volumen 4, Colección Akademos, e-DitARX Publicaciones digitales, Castellón.

AAVV (2022): Les primeres societats neolítiques de Catalunya, 5600-4500 aC. Estat de la qüestió i nous reptes de recerca. Cypsela, 22,

TARRÚS, J., CARRERAS, E., (2022). El megalitisme a Catalunya. Una visió actualitzada. Colección Akademos, n.5, e-DitARX Publicaciones digitales, Castellón.

BACH, A.; FÀBREGAS, L. MOLIST, M. (coord.) (2023). La cultura de Merlès revisada. La transició entre els períodes del Bronze Final i la Primera Edat del Ferro a la Catalunya Central i àrees veïnes. Museu de Solsona

BACH, A, COLOMÉS, F., HERNÀNDEZ, G., MOLIST, M.. (2025). Hàbitat a l’aire lliure al neolític antic i mitjà a Catalunya: Nous elements per a una síntesis. Actes de la jornada de Canovelles, 25 de març de 2023. Barcelona territori. Converses Patrimonials. Generalitat de Catalunya. https://drac.cultura.gencat.cat/handle/20.500.12368/36562?show=full



LEGISLATION AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK


Pla de l'Arqueologia i la Paleontologia de Catalunya (PAPCAT 2030)

https://cultura.gencat.cat/ca/departament/plans-i-programes/ambit-sectorial/pla-recerca-arqueologia-i-paleontologia-catalanes/index.html


REVISTES D'ARQUEOLOGIA PREHISTÒRICA CATALUNYA.


Anuari de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans (anys 1915-1925)

EMPURIES (Museu Arqueològic de Catalunya)(Des de anys 1940)

CYPSELA (Museu Arqueologia de Catalunya) (Des de 1975)

PYRENAE (Universitat de Barcelona) des de 1973 a 1980, segona etapa des de 1993. FONAMENTS (Eds.Curial, Barcelona) (Des de anys 1979)

TRIBUNA D'ARQUEOLOGIA (Servei Arqueologia, Generalitat de Catalunya)(Des de 1981)

COTA ZERO (Edt. EUMO Vic) ( 1985-2010)

REVISTA D'ARQUEOLOGIA DE PONENT (Universitat de Lleida) des de 1991

RUBRICATUM (Museu de Gavà) des de 1994

QUADERNS d'ARQUEOLOGIA I HISTÒRIA DE LA CIUTAT DE BARCELONA. (Museu d'Història de Barcelona) Des de 2004.

Altres revistes d'àmbit local o general que tenen articles d'arqueologia prehistòrica:

ARRAHONA (Vallès), AUSA (Osona), ILERDA (Lleida), OLERDULAE (Vilafranca del Penedès); GALA (St. Feliu de Codines),

ESTRAT (C.E.C.I. Igualada);

ACTA ARQUEOLÒGICA DE TARRAGONA (Reial Societat Arqueològica Tarraconense).

REVISTES D'ARQUEOLOGIA PREHISTORICA A NIVELL D' ESTAT.

- TRABAJOS DE PREHISTORIA (CSIC- IEH Madrid)

COMPLUTUM (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)

SAGUNTUM QUADERNS DE PREGISTORIA I ARQUEOLOGIA DE CASTELLO (Diputació de Castelló de la Plana)


COL.LOQUIS, SEMINARIS

TRIBUNA D'ARQUEOLOGIA Servei d'Arqueologia. Barcelona. Edició per cursos. Novetats de la recerca a nivell de projectes d'excavacions a Catalunya.

Jornades d'Arqueologia de les Comarques de Girona, Girona, Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya i Universitat de Girona (convocatòria anual. Novetats de recerca de les comarques Gironines).

Jornades d'Arqueologia de la Catalunya Central, Manresa-Vic, Servei d'Arqueologia, Museu de Manresa i Museu de Vic (convocatòria bianual.Novetats de recerca de les comarques de la Catalunya Central).

Jornades d'Arqueologia del Penedès.

Jornades d'Arqueologia de les Terres de l'Ebre.

COL.LOQUI INTERNACIONAL D'ARQUEOLOGIA DE PUIGCERDÀ (DDAA (1992): Estat de la investigació sobre el neolític a Catalunya. IX Col·loqui Internacional d’Arqueologia de Puigcerdà. Puigcerdà-Andorra. DDAA(2002): Pirineus i veïns al III mil·lenni AC. De la fi del neolític a l’edat del bronze entre l’Ebre i la Garona, XII Col·loqui Internacional d’Arqueologia de Puigcerdà, 10-12 de novembre de 2000, Institut d’Estudis Ceretans, Puigcerdà.


EDICIÓ DE CORPUS, INVENTARIS

CORPUS DE SEPULCROS MEGALITICOS. Edició dels anys 60 i 70 de les manifestacions de sepulcres megalítics de les principals comarques catalanes. Editat per l'Institut de Prehistòria i Arqueologia de la Diputació de Barcelona.

CARTES ARQUEOLÒGIQUES (Inventari del Patrimoni Arqueològic de Catalunya) (Servei d'Arqueologia /Departament de Cultura / Generalitat de Catalunya).- Consultable CORPUS DE PINTURES RUPESTRES

VOL. I LA CONCA DEL SEGRE (Generalitat de Catalunya.) VOL. I I L' Àrea Central i Meridional.(Generalitat de Catalunya.)

PÀGINES WEB http://cultura.gencat.cat/invarque/index.asp (Inventari Arqueològic)

http://cultura.gencat.cat/invarque/index.asp (Inventari Arqueològic)

http://blocs.gencat.cat/blocs/AppPHP/tribunadarqueologia/ (Tribuna Arqueologia)

http://calaix.gencat.cat/ (Memòries arqueològiques)

http://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/Patrimoni/menuitem.6a2dec9a300f68a8cd0181dfb0c0e1a0/?vgnextoid=22175356066b011(rupestres Unesco)

Software

For written presentations, a standard word processor (Word, OpenOffice writer or similar) is recommended.
For oral presentations it is recommended to use PowerPoint or similar.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE