| CODE | ARC3006 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Maltese Prehistory | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Classics and Archaeology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit offers a comprehensive exploration of Malta's prehistoric past, tracing human development on the Maltese Islands from its earliest beginnings to the emergence of the first literate inhabitants. It examines the history of archaeological discoveries and research on the islands, explaining how our current understanding of the Maltese prehistoric framework was established and continues to evolve. The study-unit goes on to survey and examine significant prehistoric sites and artefacts, highlighting specific issues or challenges within their study. Furthermore, the lectures are enhanced by a number of site-visits, providing a direct engagement with many of the sites discussed in class. Study-Unit Aims: - To provide students with an understanding of the current state of knowledge of prehistory in the Maltese Islands; - To examine and understand the key sources of evidence available for studying Maltese prehistory. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognise how the present body of knowledge for the period was generated, interpreted and achieved; - Be familiar with how key events and cultural developments unfolded and affected the Maltese cultural and physical landscape during Malta’s prehistoric period. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognize and interpret the available archaeological and scientific evidence that is used to to interpret Malta’s prehistoric period; - Identify, examine and interpret how different sources of evidence are used to complement each other and support an argument about the past; - Recall key sources of evidence used to understand and explain specific topics and themes (i.e. settlement patterns, ritual and funerary practices, environmental adaptation etc.) in prehistoric Malta. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Trump, David H. (2002). Malta: Prehistory and Temples, Malta, Midsea Books. - Cilia, Daniel (ed.) (2004). Malta before History, Malta, Miranda (selected chapters). Supplementary Readings: - Bonanno, A. (1986). A socio-economic approach to Maltese prehistory. The temple builders. In Malta: Studies of its Heritage and History, Malta, Mid-Med Bank, 17-46. - Robb, John (2001). Island identities: ritual, travel and the creation of difference in Neolithic Malta, European Journal of Archaeology 4, 2 (2001): 175-202. - Skeates, Robin (2010) An Archaeology of the Senses. Prehistoric Malta, Oxford: University Press. - Groucutt, Huw, et al (2022). The 4.2 ka Event and the End of the Maltese “Temple Period. Frontiers in Earth Science, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.771683 - Specific thematic reading lists will be provided following each lecture. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Huw S Groucutt Gillian Asciak Joel Grima Bernardette Mercieca |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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