Studying at York
Becoming Human - ARC00018M
Module summary
In this course we consider the fascinating question of what it means to be human. We ask if there are critical characteristics of humans which mark us as different from other species, and how, when and where we might identify them in the archaeological record.
We address human societies from those of our common ancestor with chimpanzees, to early human activities 2 million years ago in East Africa, Homo ergaster and Homo heidelbergensis and lastly Neanderthals. We question the key changes taking place in each period and in each consider what defining patterns of humanity we might identify emerging within the archaeological record.
We aim to provide a broad understanding of the key phases in the evolution of 'humanity' and a critical awareness of how the evidence is interpreted.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
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to provide an overview of archaeological evidence from the lower and middle Palaeolithic
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to develop an understanding some of the key debates over key social transitions in thought, social relationships and culture
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to encourage critical appraisal of how archaeological evidence can be used to build up an understanding of the progressive emergence of key human traits
Module learning outcomes
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Have a familiarity with archaeological evidence from the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic
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Have a good understanding of the key transitions in the emergence of human thought, social relationships and culture
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Be able to critically discuss interpretations of the origins of uniquely ‘human’ traits and their potential significance
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Have developed their writing skills through assessed essays
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Have presented their research through seminar presentations
Module content
We begin by considering some of the ‘golden barriers’ that have been constructed between humans and other animals, and the extent to which our nearest living relatives, other apes, have crossed these barriers. We then consider archaeological evidence for the lifestyles and behaviours of early hominins in Africa, archaic humans in Africa and Europe and the Neanderthals. We consider what archaeological evidence might tell us about the emergence of ‘human’ traits including care for the vulnerable, art, mortuary practices and culture and the extent to which Neanderthals followed a different evolutionary path to ourselves.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback will be available within 6 weeks
Indicative reading
Toth, N. and Shick, K. 2018. African Origins, in C. Scarre (ed.) The Human Past: World Prehistory and the Development of Human Societies, Thames and Hudson (p47-70)
Spikins, Penny (2015). How compassion made us human: The evolutionary origins of tenderness, trust and morality. Pen and Sword.
Zilhao, J. (2014) The Neanderthals, Evolution, Palaeoecology and Extinction in V. Cummings, P. Jordan and M. Zvelebil (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology and Anthropology of Hunter-gatherers