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Prehistory of Catalonia

Code: 106879 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Archaeology OP 3

Contact

Name:
Miguel Molist Montaņa
Email:
miquel.molist@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites, but knowledge of the geography of Catalonia is highly recommended.


Objectives and Contextualisation

Study and review of the evidence for prehistoric settlement in the present-day territory of Catalonia and surrounding regions, in order to understand the cultural and socioeconomic evolution from the first human settlements to the formation of Iberian societies. Emphasis is placed on the current state of research, including theoretical contributions, the latest discoveries, and updated historical interpretations within the dynamic framework of ongoing archaeological investigation.
The entire territory is reviewed, highlighting the most relevant scenarios in prehistoric archaeology across the broad geographical regions of northeastern Iberia. The course draws directly from active research projects focused on key issues in human development (social dynamics of hunter-gatherer societies, emergence of agro-pastoral communities, formation of early states).
Current topics in historical-archaeological debate and the public dissemination of Catalonia’s archaeological record will also be addressed. The course aims to introduce students to the main questions currently shaping prehistoric archaeology in Catalonia and to the most significant discoveries defining contemporary scholarly debates.


Learning Outcomes

  1. CM18 (Competence) Identify social, economic and environmental impact in the past and present of the different processes of change that occurred in prehistory based on a critical evaluation of the archaeological evidence from different periods and geographical areas.
  2. CM19 (Competence) Expose the participation of women in the prehistoric societies of Africa, Eurasia and America and the social construction of gender relations and the sexual division of labour.
  3. KM28 (Knowledge) Defend the contributions and implications of the main theoretical proposals of archaeology (traditional, processual, post-processual, feminist, Marxist archaeologies) on the societies of the different periods of the prehistory of Africa, Eurasia and America.
  4. KM29 (Knowledge) Chronologically arrange the appearance of different architectural types, the main complexes of lithic industry, and the most relevant ceramic, archaeozoological and archaeobotanical assemblages of European prehistory.
  5. KM30 (Knowledge) Characterise the main historical processes of prehistoric societies in relation to paleoenvironmental and social effects, identifying the contributions of recent archaeological research to previous knowledge.
  6. KM31 (Knowledge) Recognise androcentric biases in representations and dissemination of prehistory to develop inclusive analyses that recognise the roles of women and sexual division.
  7. SM30 (Skill) Critically analyse prehistoric societies to identify inference processes, the biases of the different theoretical models and the potential and limitations of existing records.
  8. SM31 (Skill) Synthesise the contribution of different factors to the processes of social change and environmental impact in the different periods of prehistory, especially European.
  9. SM32 (Skill) Produce hypotheses about periods of the prehistory of Africa, Eurasia and America from the recognition, critical interpretation and synthesis of records from archaeological projects.

Content

Block 1. Introduction and general concepts.

  • History of research: from early scholars to the Barcelona School and the dynamic developments of the 1970s.

  • Administrative structure of prehistoric archaeological practice in Catalonia.

  • Overview of the current state of prehistoric archaeological research in Catalonia.

  • Main methodological trends.

Block 2. Study of the first archaic hunter-gatherers.

  • Lower Paleolithic hunter-gatherer societies.

  • Middle Paleolithic hunter-gatherer societies.

  • Epipaleolithic hunter-gatherer societies.

  • Rock art expressions in Catalonia.

Block 3. Transition to food-producing societies and early farming communities.

  • Transition: hunter-gatherers versus early agricultural societies.

  • First farming villages: the Early Neolithic.

  • The golden age of Catalan Neolithic: the Middle Neolithic.

  • Consolidation of new economic forms.

  • Funerary practices of the first farming communities.

  • The megalithic phenomenon in Catalonia.

Block 4. Consolidation and transformation of peasant societies.

  • Early metallurgy and Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic societies.

  • Developments during the first half of the 2nd millennium: Chalcolithic – Early Bronze Age.

  • The dark age of Catalan prehistory: the Middle Bronze Age.

  • Innovation and/or continuity in the mid-2nd millennium.

  • Burial practices in the early 2nd millennium: southern Catalonia.

Block 5. Complex societies of the 1st millennium.

  • Transformations from the end of the 2nd millennium to the early 1st millennium: the Final Bronze Age.

  • New funerary practices: cremation.

  • Final Bronze Age: innovation and economic dynamism.

  • Debate on the introduction of iron in Catalonia.

  • Societies of the Early Iron Age and Iberization.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Seminar sessions and practical exercises led by the teaching staff 6 0.24 CM18, KM28, KM30, KM31, SM30, CM18
Theoretical classes conducted by the teaching staff. 50 2 CM18, CM19, KM28, KM29, KM30, KM31, SM30, SM31, SM32, CM18
Type: Supervised      
Advising sesions 17 0.68 CM18, CM19, KM28, SM30, SM31, SM32, CM18

METHODOLOGY

GUIDED ACTIVITY 35%

  • Lectures delivered by the instructor. 25%. Methodology: lectures with ICT support and large group discussions.

  • Seminars and practical sessions led by the instructor. 10%.

SUPERVISED ACTIVITY 10%

  • Tutorials. 8%. Methodology: scheduled sessions to resolve doubts and discuss specific course content, problems and seminars.

  • Completion of guided learning exercises. 2%.

AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITY 50%

  • Personal study. 30%. Methodology: integration of acquired knowledge through outlines, concept maps, and summaries.

  • Reading texts. Writing papers. Preparing oral presentations and seminars. Conducting bibliographic research. 20%.

NOTE:
Fifteen minutes of one class session, as scheduled by the program, will be reserved for students to complete teaching and course evaluation surveys.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Analysis of archaeological remains from Catalonia's past 20% 12 0.48 KM28, KM29, KM30, SM30, SM31, SM32
Analysis of the historical process on a temporal scale 40% 56 2.24 KM29, KM30, KM31, SM30
Case study: Analysis of the Catalan archaeological record 40% 9 0.36 CM18, CM19, KM31, SM30, SM31

Directed activities constitute 50% of the coursework and will be assessed through written exams, which account for 40% of the final grade.
Supervised activities represent 40% of the work (field trips, conference attendance, and tutorials) and will be graded at 20%, evaluated through in-class presentations and text discussions.
Autonomous work constitutes the remaining 10% and will be assessed through submitted papers, with a weight of 20%.

Criteria to pass the course: a minimum overall grade of 5 out of 10 is required. Students who do not pass in the first call may retake the theoretical exam (worth 50% of the final grade). The grades from supervised and autonomous activities (the remaining 50%) will be retained from continuous assessment.

Note:
If a student commits any irregularity that may significantly alter the evaluation of an activity, that activity will receive a grade of 0, regardless of any disciplinary action taken. If multiple irregularities occur within the same course, the final grade will be 0.

Note on AI:
Use of Artificial Intelligence technologies is not permitted at any stage of this course. Any work containing AI-generated content will be considered academically dishonest and graded with a 0, without the possibility of recovery, or may result in more severe sanctions depending on the severity.


Bibliography

GENERAL REFERENCES:
BOSCH, J. SANTACANA, J. (2009) : Blat, metalls i cabdills Catalunya del neolític a la iberització. Rafael Dalmau editor.
CRUELLS, W, MOLIST, M. & PONS, E. (Coord) (2003). "Miguel Tarradell, 40 anys de les Arrels de Catalunya". Cota Zero. Revista d'Arqueologia i Ciència, 18. Eumo Editorial (desembre, 2003).
MOLIST M. (1999). "Les primeres societats pageses (Neolític i Bronze Antic). in E. Giralt y J. M. Salrach, 4
MOLIST M. (1999). "Les primeres societats pageses (Neolític i Bronze Antic). in E. Giralt y J. M. Salrach, "Història agrària dels Països Catalans", Fundació Catalana per la Recerca.
AA.VV(1996): Els temps prehistòrics i antics. Fins al segle V. in Història. Política, Societat i Cultura dels Països
Catalans. Vol.I. Enciclopedia Catalana. Barcelona 1996.

HISTORICAL SYNTHESES:
BOSCH-GIMPERA P.(1919): Prehistòria Catalana. Enciclopedia Catalana, Vol. XVI. Barcelona 300 p.
BOSCH-GIMPERA P.(1932): Etnologia de la Península Iberica. Edt. Alpha,. Barcelona,p.711.
MALUQUER DE MOTES J.(1987): Historia de Catalunya, I: Prehistoria i Edat Antiga fins al segle III. Edt. 62, Barcelona.
GÓMEZ BACH, A.; MOLIST, M. (2016). La prehistoria al pla de Barcelona. Documents per a una nova síntesis. Documents, n.11, Museu d'Història de Barcelona.
https://www.barcelona.cat/museuhistoria/sites/default/files/prehistoriaplabcn.pdf
SERRA - RÀFOLS, J. de C., (1930): El poblament prehistòric de Catalunya. Barcelona, 1930.
TARRADELL,M.(1963): Història dels Catalans I, Prehistòria i Antiguitat . Barcelona, 1963.
TARRADELL, M.(1962): Les arrels de Catalunya. Ed. Vicens-Vives. Barcelona, 1962.

AA.VV (1978): Història de Catalunya, Vol I. [Coordinada per l'Institut d'Arqueologia i Prehistòria Universitat de Barcelona].Edt. Salvat. Barcelona
AA.VV (1982): Les excavacions arqueològiques a Catalunya en els darrers anys. Barcelona 1982.
AA.VV (1982): L'Arqueologia a Catalunya, avui. Generalitat de Catalunya Barcelona 1982.

JOURNAL OF PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY OF CATALONIA

Anuari de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans (anys 1915-1925)
EMPURIES (Museu Arqueològic de Catalunya)(Des de anys 1940 )
CYPSELA (Museu Arqueologia de Catalunya) (Des de 1975)
PYRENAE (Universitat de Barcelona) des de 1973 a 1980, segona etapa des de 1993. FONAMENTS (Edt.
Curial, Barcelona) (Des de anys 1979)
TRIBUNA D'ARQUEOLOGIA (Servei Arqueologia, Generalitat de Catalunya)(Des de 1981)
COTA ZERO (Edt. EUMO Vic) ( 1985-2010)
REVISTA ARQUEOLOGICA DE PONENT (Universitat de Lleida) des de 1991
RUBRICATUM (Museu de Gavà) des de 1994
QUADERNS d'ARQUEOLOGIA I HISTÒRIA DE LA CIUTAT DE BARCELONA. (Museu d'Història de
Barcelona) Des de 2004.
Altres revistes d'àmbit local o general que tenen articles d'arqueologia prehistòrica:
ARRAHONA (Vallès),
AUSA (Osona),
ILERDA (Lleida),
OLERDULAE (Vilafranca del Penedes); GALA (St. Feliu de Codines),
ESTRAT (C.E.C.I. Igualada);
ACTA ARQUEOLOGICA DE TARRAGONA (Reial Societat Arqueològica Tarraconense).

JOURNAL OF PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY OF SPAIN
- TRABAJOS DE PREHISTORIA (CSIC- IEH Madrid)
COMPLUTUM (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
SAGUNTUM QUADERNS DE PREGISTORIA I ARQUEOLOGIA DE CASTELLO (Diputació de Castelló de la
Plana)

COLLOQUIA AND SEMINARS

TRIBUNA D'ARQUELOGIA Servei d'Arqueologia. Barcelona.
Jornades d'Arqueologia de les Comarques de Girona, Girona, Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya y Universitat
de Girona (convocatòria anual. Novetats de recerca de les comarques Gironines). 
Jornades d'Arqueologia de la Catalunya Central, Manresa-Vic, Servei d'Arqueologia, Museu de Manresa i
Museu de Vic (convocatòria bianual.Novetats de recerca de les comarques de la Catalunya Central)...
Edicions també d'altres comarques de manera menys regulars.


COL.LOQUI INTERNACIONAL D'ARQUEOLOGIA DE PUIGCERDA. (Celebracions cada 2 anys, amb temes
monogràfics que centren els debats; Publicació de les Actes.
EDICIO DE CORPUS, INVENTARIS
CORPUS DE SEPULCROS MEGALITICOS. Edició dels anys 60 i 70 de les manifestacions de sepulcres megalítics de les principals comarques catalanes. Editat per l'Institut de Prehistoria i Arqueologia de la
Diputació de Barcelona.
CARTES ARQUEOLÒGIQUES (Inventari del Patrimoni Arqueològic de Catalunya) (Servei d'Arqueologia /Departament de Cultura / Generalitat de Catalunya).- Consultable CORPUS DE PINTURES RUPESTRES
VOL. I LA CONCA DEL SEGRE (Generalitat de Catalunya.) VOL. I I L' Àrea Central i Meridional.(Generalitat de Catalunya.)
PÀGINES WEB http://cultura.gencat.cat/invarque/index.asp (Inventari Arqueològic) 
http://cultura.gencat.cat/invarque/index.asp (Inventari Arqueològic)
http://blocs.gencat.cat/blocs/AppPHP/tribunadarqueologia/ (Tribuna Arqueologia) http://calaix.gencat.cat/
(Memòries arqueològiques)
http://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/Patrimoni/menuitem.6a2dec9a300f68a8cd0181dfb0c0e1a0/?vgnextoid=22175356066b011(Unesco)


Software

For written assignments, use a standard word processor (Word, OpenOffice Writer or equivalent). For oral presentations, PowerPoint, Canva or similar are recommended.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed