Guide in PDF format

Archaeology of Early Agricultural Societies

Code: 100730
Credits: 6

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Archaeology	OP	4

Contact lecturer

Name :: Maria Saña Segui
Email :: maria.sana@uab.cat

Teaching staff

: Carlos Tornero Dacasa

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Objectives

This course of the Archaeology degree is focused on the study of the origins and consolidation of agricultural societies. A historical and archaeological analysis of the phenomenon of domestication of plant products (agriculture) and animals (livestock) is carried out. It also includes the study of the economic and social transformations associated with it: the appearance and consolidation of settlements, demographic changes, technological transformations, funerary practices, in other words, the study of peasant society. In the analysis of the empirical and historical record, special emphasis is placed on the study of societies in different geographical areas: the Near East, Europe and the Mediterranean during the Holocene

Learning outcomes

Effectively expressing themselves and applying the argumentative and textual processes of formal and scientific texts.
Carrying out oral presentations using appropriate academic vocabulary and style.
Identifying the context of the historical processes.
Identifying the characteristic methods of Archaeology and its relationship with the historical analysis.
Using the specific interpretational and technical vocabulary of the discipline.
Recognising the importance of controlling the quality of the work's results and its presentation.
Applying both knowledge and analytical skills to the resolution of problems related to their area of study.
Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
Using suitable terminology when drawing up an academic text.
Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
Mastering the relevant languages to the necessary degree in the professional practice.
Interpreting material sources and the archaeological record.
Mastering the diachronic structure of the past.
Mastering and identifying the history of immediate environment.
Mastering the processes of change produced in Prehistory.

Block 1 Introduction, Concepts, Methodology

Introduction: Definition and History of Research

Concepts, variables and changeover times

Block 2 Theory, Transformations and the Archaeological Record

Interpretive theories on the emergence of agriculture and livestock.

Change and continuity in agricultural societies: economic and social aspects

Territory and population. Habitat and domestic devices

Agriculture and Livestock: debate on domestication

Agriculture and Livestock new economic forms

New technologies: tools, containers, fabrics, decorations, ...

Exploitation and circulation of biotic and abiotic goods

Funeral practices and symbolic change

A Global Reading: Peasant Societies: New Economy and Social Approach

Block 3 Analysis of the origin of peasant societies in the Middle East

Early Agricultural Societies in the Eastern Mediterranean: Precedents

First agricultural manipulations in the Eastern Mediterranean

Cattle raising and consolidation of the village.

Technological transformations and socioeconomic stabilization

From the village in the city

Block 4. Neolithisation on a Global Scale: Expansion, Diversity and Convergence of Agricultural Processes

The Neolithisation of Europe and the Western Mediterranean.

The spread and adaptation of farming economies.

China and the independent origins of agriculture.

New Guinea and horticultural economies.

Africa and processes of domestication.

Mesoamerica and the Andes: the emergence of agriculture in the Americas.

Comparative perspectives on the origins of farming societies.

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Personal study, text reading. Writing papers. Reading of comments	80	3.2	2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15
Theoretical classes and faculty-led research seminars	50	2	3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Carrying out guided learning exercises and tutorials	17	0.68	1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11

TEACHING METHOD

DIRECTED ACTIVITY 50 h

Theoretical classes directed by the teaching staff. 30h

Teaching-learning methodology: Master classes with ICT support and large group discussion.

Seminar sessions and practices led by the teaching staff. 10h

Teaching-learning methodology: Introduction of the session, presentation of the text, evaluation and collective critical discussion. Individual and/or collective presentations and round of assessments.

SUPERVISED ACTIVITY 17 h.

-Tutorial.

Teaching-learning methodology: Arranged sessions to solve doubts and maintain discussions on specific contents of the subject, problems and seminars.

-Performance of guided learning exercises.

Teaching-learning methodology: Conducting and correcting standardized learning exercises.

AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITY 80 h.

-Personal study.

Teaching-learning methodology: Integration of the acquired knowledge.

Reading of texts. Writing of papers. Preparation of oral comments and seminars. Search of bibliographic information.

Teaching and learning methodology: Comprehensive reading of texts, preparation of reviews, summaries and analytical comments using a guide. Information search strategies. Selection of materials.

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
Tests of theoretical content	40%	1	0.04	1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14
Presentations and active participation in class	10%	1	0.04	1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14
Delivery of works	50%	1	0.04	1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Assessment:

The assessment system is organised into three components, each contributing a specific percentage to the final grade:

Directed activities (lectures and seminars) account for 40% of the final mark. Theoretical knowledge will be assessed through one or two written examinations.
Attendance, participation in in-class activities, and supervised activities (tutorials) account for 10% of the final mark.
Independent learning activities (study and coursework) account for the remaining 50%.

Assessment Schedule:

At the beginning of the semester, students will be informed of the deadlines for completing and submitting all assessment activities.

Requirements for Passing the Course:

Complete and submit all assessment activities within the established deadlines.
Obtain an overall average mark of at least 5.0 out of 10.

Review of Marks:

When each assessment activity is assigned or submitted, the lecturer will inform students (via Moodle or the Academic Information System, SIA) of the procedure and timetable for reviewing marks.

Resit Assessment:

Students who have completed the required assessment activities and have obtained a minimum overall mark of 3.5 will be eligible to take the resit assessment.

Conditions for a "Not Assessed" Grade:

Students will receive a "Not Assessed" (NA) grade if they have submitted 30% or less of the assessment activities.

Resit Examination Schedule:

The resit dates are established by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. They are published on the Faculty website during July of the preceding academic year. It is the student's responsibility to know the date scheduled for the resit examination. The final continuous assessment activity will be scheduled at least one week before the resit examination.

Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct:

Any irregularity committed by a student that may significantly affect the assessment of an activity will result in a mark of 0 for that activity, regardless of any disciplinary procedures that may also apply. If several instances of academic misconduct occur within the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0.

Use of Artificial Intelligence:

This course permits the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies only for bibliographic or information searches, text editing, and other purposes expressly authorised by the lecturer. Students must:

identify any sections generated using AI; specify the AI tools used; and 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 a mark of 0 for that activity, with no possibility of resit, in addition to any further disciplinary sanctions that may apply in serious cases.

Single Assessment:

This course does not offer a single-assessment option.

Bibliography

General titles

BAR YOSEF O. (Edt.) (1998): “The transition to agriculture in the Old World”. The review of Archaeology. Massachusetts, 63 pags

BENDER,B. (1978): Gatherer-Hunter to Farmer: A Social Perspective. World Archaeology, nº 10, 1978, pp.204-222.

BENDER,B.(1981): Gatherer-Hunter intensification. in: Sheridan, Bailey (Eds): Economic Archaeology. B.A.R. International Series nº 96, 1981, pp. 149-157.

BOSERUP E.(1968): Las condiciones del desarrollo en la Agricultura . Madrid, Tecnos, 1968).

BOSERUP E.(1984): Población y cambio tecnologico, Oxford: Blakwell.

BINFORD L.R: Post-Pleistocene Adaptations in S.R. Binford&L. Binford (Eds.) New perspectives in Archaeology. Aldine, Chicago. pp. 313-34.

BINFORD L.(1988): En busca del pasado. Ed. Crítica, 1988, 273 p. (Capt. Sobre los origenes de la agricultura)

BRAIDWWOOD R.J. (1979): El hombre prehistórico. F.C.E. Mexico (diferents edicions)

CAUVIN J. (1994): Naissance des divinités, naissance de l'agriculture. La revolution des symboles au Néolithique. CNRS Edt. Paris. 304 p.

CHILDE,V.G.(1974): El origen de la civilización. Fondo de Cultura Económica. Mèxic, (diferents reedicions).

COHEN, M.N.(1981): La crisis alimentaria en la Prehistoria. Alianza Editorial. Madrid 1981.

HERNANDO A. (1994): El proceso de neolitización, perspectivas teóricas para el estudio del Neolítico. Revista Zephyrus 46 p. 123-142.

HARRIS D.(ed.)(1996) The origins and Spread of Agriculture and Pastoralism in Euroasia. Edt. UCL. London

MEILLASSOUX,C.(1987): Mujeres, graneros y capitales. Ed. Siglo XXI, Mèxic, 1987.

RINDOS,D.(1990): Los orígenes de la agricultura. Una perspectiva evolucionista. Ed. Bellaterra. Barcelona, 1990, 341 p.

TESTART,A.(1981): Les Chasseurs-Cueilleurs ou l'origine des inégalités. Société d'Ethnographie. Paris 1981.

UCKO,P. i DIMBELY,G.W. (eds.)(1969):The domestication and explotation of plant and animals. Durkworld. Londres, 1969.

VICENT,J.M.(1981): El origen de la economia productora. Breve introducción a la Historia de las ideas. in: Lopez,P.(ed.): El Neolítico en España. Ed.Cátedra, Madrid, 1981, pp. 11-58.

References on agropastoral societies (Europe and Midle East)

ARIAS P., (1997): Marisqueos y Agricultores. Los origenes del Neolítico en la fachada Atlántica Europea. Universidad de Cantabria. 106 pags

AURENCHE, O. S.K. KOZLOWSKI (1999): La naissance du néolithique au Proche Orient. Editions Errance.( Paris). 256 pags.

BERNABEU J., AURA J.E. , BADAL E (1993): Al oeste del Eden. Las primeras sociedades agrícolas en la Europa Mediterránea. Edt. Síntesis (Madrid), 336 pags.

BUXÓ R. (1997) : Arqueología de las Plantas. Edt. Critica. 356 pags.

HERNANDO A. (1999): Los primeros agricultores de la Península Ibérica. Edt. Síntesis. 315 pags.

HODDER, I. (1990): The domestication of Europe. Edt. Blackwell, 331pags.

GUILAINE J., (Edt.) (2000): Premiers paysans du monde. Actes du Séminaire du College de France.Editions Errance,Paris, 2000.320 pags. (Desde el 2000 Edició anual d’un llibre del seminaris amb temes de Neolitic i Edat del Bronze)

GUILAINE J. (2003): De la vague à la tombe. La conquete néolithique de la Méditerranée. Edt. Seuil, Paris, 375 pags.

LICHARDUS, J . et alii ( 1987): La protohistoria de Europa. El neolítico y el calcolítico. Edt. Labor (col. Nueva Clio) 598 pags.

LOPEZ P. (comp.) (1988) : El neolítico en España. Edt. Catedra. 428 pags.

MAZURIÉ DE KEROULAIN, K. (2003): Genèse et diffusion de l’agriculture en Europe. Editions Errance, Paris, 184 pags.

REDMAN Ch. (1991): Los orígenes de la civilización. Desde los primeros agricultores hasta la sociedad urbana en el Próximo Oriente. Editorial Critica. 443 pags.

SAÑA M. (Coor) (1995): Dossier: Arqueozoologia: Economia i societat. Revista COTA ZERO. núm. 11. 128 pag.

DENNELL, R. (1987). Prehistoria Económica de Europa. Edt. Critica. 289 pags.

THORPE E. J. (1999).- The origins of Agriculture in Europe. Edt. Routlege (London).224 pags.

VAQUER J. (1999).- Le néolithique du Nord-ouest méditerranéen. Actes du Colloque Int. Carcassone, 1994. Editions du BSPF, Paris, 296 pags.

WHITTLE A. (1996).- Europe in the Neolithic. The creation of the new worlds. Cambridge Univ. Press. London.443 pags.

DIVERSOS AUTORS (1991 i 1993) : Agricultura: Orígens, adopció i desenvolupament. Revista COTA ZERO, Nº 7(1991) pags. 7-126; i Nº 9 (1993) pags 7-96

DIVERSOS AUTORS (1992) : Estat de la investigació sobre el Neolític a Catalunya. Actes del 9ª Col.loqui Inter.. d’Arqueologia de Puigcerda. Andorra, 1992. 338 pags.

DIVERSOS AUTORS (1996) : Formació i implantació de les comunitats agrícoles.. Actes del 1º Congrés del Neolític a la Peninsula Ibérica. Revista Rubricatum, 1 , Gavà, 1996. (2 vols. 908 pags.

DIVERSOS AUTORS (1999) : Actes del II Congrés del Neolític a la Peninsula Ibérica. Revista Saguntum Extra-2. València, 1999. 338 pags.

P. Arias, R. Ontañon, C. Garcia-Moncó (Edts) (2005) : Actas del III Congreso del Neolítico en la Península Ibérica. Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, 2005. 1076 pags.

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