Society and Economy in the Neolithic

Pre-requisites: It is necessary to have basic knowledge regarding the Neolithic, it is also necessary to have attended the course Settlement and Economy in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic in the previous semester.

Course objectives: To review the dynamism of social relations in the Neolithic; review of the level of interaction among the Neolithic societies; understanding the interrelation between economic activities and social relations; understanding the local and regional differences in the socio-economic practice.

Course description: The beginning of the Neolithic marked a change in the way of life, culture and society of prehistoric people. The course will show how the mentioned changes manifested themselves in Asia Minor and the European continent. Topics this course deals with are: the role of Neolithic innovations in the development of a more complex society, interregional exchange and the Neolithic village. Special emphasis will be given to the interrelation of economic activities, certain type of settlement and social organization. During the course students will study examples, on which they can base their discussions and opinion exchanges, with an aim to enable them to scientifically interpret data. Every student is obliged to participate in team projects, which will be used as a basis for reviewing interpretative possibilities. Project topics will be assigned in agreement with the lecturer.

Learning Outcomes: Class attendance, essay, oral examination.

Society and Economy in the Neolithic

Pre-requisites: It is necessary to have basic knowledge regarding the Neolithic, it is also necessary to have attended the course Settlement and Economy in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic in the previous semester.

Course objectives: To review the dynamism of social relations in the Neolithic; review of the level of interaction among the Neolithic societies; understanding the interrelation between economic activities and social relations; understanding the local and regional differences in the socio-economic practice.

Course description: The beginning of the Neolithic marked a change in the way of life, culture and society of prehistoric people. The course will show how the mentioned changes manifested themselves in Asia Minor and the European continent. Topics this course deals with are: the role of Neolithic innovations in the development of a more complex society, interregional exchange and the Neolithic village. Special emphasis will be given to the interrelation of economic activities, certain type of settlement and social organization. During the course students will study examples, on which they can base their discussions and opinion exchanges, with an aim to enable them to scientifically interpret data. Every student is obliged to participate in team projects, which will be used as a basis for reviewing interpretative possibilities. Project topics will be assigned in agreement with the lecturer.

Learning Outcomes: Class attendance, essay, oral examination.

Literature/Reading:

• Clutton-Bruck, J. 1999 A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Sherrat, A. 1997 The Secondary Exploatation of Animals in the Old World. Economy and Society in Prehistoric Europe. Changing Perspectives. Edinburg: Edinburgh University Press, 199-228.
• Price, T. D. Gebauer, A.B. (eds.) 1995 Last Hunters – First Farmers, School of American Research Press, Santa Fe – New Mexico.
• Barker, G. 1985 Prehistoric Farming in Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Hodder, I. 1990 The Domestication of Europe. Structure and Contigency in Neolithic Societies. Oxford: Blackwell.
• Whittle, A. 2003 The Archaeology of People. Dimensions of Neolithic Life. London and New York: Routledge.
• Seferiades, M. L. 1995 Spondylus Gaederopus: The Earliest European Long Distance Exchange System, Poročilo o raziskovanju paleolitika, neolitika in eneolitika v Sloveniji 22: 238-256.
• Willms C. 1983 Obsidian im Neolithicum und Äneolithicum Europas, Germania 61(2): 327-352.
• Whittle, A. 1996 Europe in the Neolithic: the Creations of New Worlds, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• Avi Gopher, Shahal Abbo and Simcha Lev-Yadun 2001 Documenta Praehistorica XXVIII, The "when", the "where" and the "why" of the Neolithic revolution in the Levant, 49-62
• Tripković, B 2007 Domaćinstvo i prostor u kasnom neolitu: vinčansko naselje na Banjici. Beograd: Srpsko arheološko društvo.
• Dimitrijević V., Tripković B 2006 Spondylus and Glycymeris bracelets: trade reflections at Neolithic Vinča-Belo Brdo. Documenta Praehistorica XXXIII, 237-252.
• Tripković 2004 Obsidian Deposit in the Central Balkan? Tested against Archaeological Evidence. Starinar 52