Spring Semester, Optional module, 10 ECTS

Instructor: Prof. em. Eleni Mantzourani, with the assistance of Dr Ioannis Voskos

Outline

This course combines an introduction to the material culture of the island and a discussion of the major issues that dominate current research in Cypriot prehistory. Cyprus holds an important and strategic position between three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. Thus, it lies at the nexus of significant communication routes in the Eastern Mediterranean region, looking towards both the east and the west. Within the above framework issues like island colonization, site distribution, domestic and funerary architecture, arts and crafts, ideology/religion, economy, social complexity and external relations will be examined.    

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students should be familiar with

• the main sites - domestic, burial and other - of all phases of the Cypriot Bronze Age
• the material record of major and minor arts and crafts
• the contemporary trends on the interpretation of the socioeconomic evolution during the Cypriot Bronze Age.

They should also be able to

• understand and deal with different problems of archaeological information
• exercise a productive critique on various interpretative approaches of the material record
• participate in an open dialogue expressing their own views on key-issues of the prehistory of Cyprus
• study and work individually and in groups.

Assessment

Essay (3,500-5,000 words). A list of indicative topics is provided within the course but students are strongly encouraged to discuss and personalize the essay topic with the course instructor. In addition, students may be asked to study select bibliography papers and either discuss them in class or write short reviews (500-1,000 words).

Bibliography

Knapp, A.B. 2013. The Archaeology of Cyprus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Mantzourani E., 2001 (2006 2nd edition). The Archaeology of Prehistoric Cyprus, Athens: Kardamitsa Editions. (in Greek).

Steel, L. 2004. Cyprus before History. London: Duckwoth.

Καραγιώργης Β., 2002. Κύπρος. Το σταυροδρόμι της Ανατολικής Μεσογείου,1600-500 π.Χ. Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις ΚΑΠΟΝ. English version: Karageorghis, V. 2002. Early Cyprus, The Crossroads of Eastern Mediterranean. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum.