Beliefs and cults in the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age in Central Europe 2800-DWZEL-OG
During the course the most important aspects of beliefs and cults of prehistoric communities who lived
in Central Europe in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age will be discussed. Participants will learn about the
most interesting discoveries and archeological sources that allow to reconstruct the world of ancient
beliefs and rituals. Some elements of symbolic culture of ancient people (including religion, magic and
ritual behavior) is one of the most interesting and the least investigated topic concerning this period. The
proposed thematic will be presented on the basis of various archaeological sources and together with
the most important economic, cultural and social changes over Bronze and Early Iron Ages.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
The participants will gain knowledge about the beliefs and cults of the communities who livied in the
Central Europe in the Bronze Age and the early Iron Age, get acquainted with the most important
archaeological discoveries concerning spiritual culture and basic cultural, economic and social changes.
The proposed topics is interdisciplinary and combinous the achievements of the various fields of
humanities.
Assessment criteria
The written exam
Bibliography
Symbolic culture of the Urnfield Culture in Bronz Age and the Early Iron Age, [w:] Biskupińskie Prace
Archeologiczne 1, , B. Gediga, D. Piotrowska (red.), Warszawa-Wrocław-Biskupin, 2000
The art of the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age in Central Europe, [w:] Biskupińskie Prace
Archeologiczne 2, , B. Gediga, A. Mierzwiński, W. Piotrowski (red.), Warszawa-Wrocław-Biskupin, 2001
Secrets of the Urnfield, The borderline between temporality and the beyond in the perspective of the
prehistoric anthropology of the death
Images and symbols. Essays on magical and religious symbolism