Megaliths in Europe’s Prehistory

Pre-requisites: None

Course objectives: This course contributes to the better understanding of social structure and the changes in the religion and magic among societies living during the Copper and Bronze ages in Western Europe.

Course description: Megalithomania signifies the human tendency to transcend the mundane and reach for immortality. The great stone monuments that have been preserved until today seem to personify authentic symbols of long lasting presence. Most of the time in this course is dedicated to a review of archaeological sites containing megalithic structures. Some are isolated single stones and others a part of a complex constructions made of large stone blocks. These monuments are mostly situated by the Atlantic coast from the British Isles to the Iberian Peninsula. Meihirs, dolmens, cromlechs of Western Europe have been built since the Neolithic only to continue during the Copper Age and the Bronze Age, in other words form the IV to the end of the II and the beginning of the I millennium B.C. In the West Mediterranean Megalithic tombs and shrines were built during the Copper Age, but there is few of tem in the South Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Greece Caucasus). Since the megaliths attract so much attention, both among archaeologists as well as lay people. The subject matter on megaliths is often published in electronic form, which is very useful for participating students who have to prepare thematic units and short presentations, during the course.

Learning Outcomes: Class activities, midterm examination and oral examination.

Megaliths in Europe’s Prehistory

Pre-requisites: None

Course objectives: This course contributes to the better understanding of social structure and the changes in the religion and magic among societies living during the Copper and Bronze ages in Western Europe.

Course description: Megalithomania signifies the human tendency to transcend the mundane and reach for immortality. The great stone monuments that have been preserved until today seem to personify authentic symbols of long lasting presence. Most of the time in this course is dedicated to a review of archaeological sites containing megalithic structures. Some are isolated single stones and others a part of a complex constructions made of large stone blocks. These monuments are mostly situated by the Atlantic coast from the British Isles to the Iberian Peninsula. Meihirs, dolmens, cromlechs of Western Europe have been built since the Neolithic only to continue during the Copper Age and the Bronze Age, in other words form the IV to the end of the II and the beginning of the I millennium B.C. In the West Mediterranean Megalithic tombs and shrines were built during the Copper Age, but there is few of tem in the South Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Greece Caucasus). Since the megaliths attract so much attention, both among archaeologists as well as lay people. The subject matter on megaliths is often published in electronic form, which is very useful for participating students who have to prepare thematic units and short presentations, during the course.

Learning Outcomes: Class activities, midterm examination and oral examination.

Literature/Reading:

• - ATKINSON R. Stonehenge, Archaeology and interpretation, Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, 1979
• - MICHELL J., Megalithomania, Artists, antiquarians and archaeologists at the old stone monuments, Thames and Hudson, London, 1982
• - RENREW C., Before Civilizatin- The Radiocarbon revolution and prehistoric Europe, Pinguin Book, Harmondsworth, England, 1976. (Chap. 7 - The Enigma of the Megalith, p. 133-160)
• - LICHARDUS J., LICHARDUS – ITTEN M., La protohistoire de l’Europe - La Néolithique et le Chalcolithique entre la Méditerranée et la mer Baltique , Paris 1985 L ‘Europe septentrionale (in Chap. III: La civilization chalcolithique en Europe), p. 469-490)
• - TOMOVIĆ M. i drugi, MEGALITI, Beograd 1983
• - WOOD J.E., Sun, Moon and Standing Stones, Oxford 1978
• SandrasN:K., Prehistoric Art in Europe, The Pelican History of Art, Pinguin Books, Harmondsworth, 1985., 219-292.
• Dragana Milovanović, Arhitektura megalita, Naučna knjiga, Beograd 1988
• Glyn Daniel, The Megalith Builders of Western Europe, Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, 1963.
• Glyn Daniel, The Prehistoric Chamber Tombs of France,Thames and Hudson, London1960.
• Julian Cope,The Megalithic European, London,2004.