Archaeology and Heritage of Africa
This course was funded by the German Foreign Office and developed by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), in collaboration with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behavior (ICArEHB) in Portugal, and the Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, with input from experts around the world. Africa has a rich cultural heritage spanning tens of thousands of years, including the earliest known fossils of our hominin ancestors, abundant and diverse rock art sites, and some of the oldest civilizations in human history.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 17 hours
- Course by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
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Offered by
About
This course was funded by the German Foreign Office and developed by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), in collaboration with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behavior (ICArEHB) in Portugal, and the Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, with input from experts around the world. Africa has a rich cultural heritage spanning tens of thousands of years, including the earliest known fossils of our hominin ancestors, abundant and diverse rock art sites, and some of the oldest civilizations in human history. Would you like to know more about the new methods archaeologists are using to study African archaeology? And to learn directly from case studies with researchers working on the continent? Are you interested in knowing the role local communities have in the preservation and protection of heritage sites? By enrolling in this course, you will have the opportunity to learn and explore these and so many other subjects in African Archaeology and Heritage and discover the rich and diverse heritage of Africa.Modules
Course Overview and welcome
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
1
Videos
- Introduction to the MOOC
2
Readings
- Teaching resources and Bibliography
- Acknowledgments
How the course works
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5
Readings
5
Readings
- Course organization
- About the course certificate
- Solving doubts and technical issues
- FAQs - General topics
- FAQs - Assessments and Certificate
Week presentation
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Introduction to Archaeology
1
Readings
- Teaching team of the week
Videos
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6
Videos
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1
Readings
6
Videos
- Introduction to African Archaeology - part 1
- Introduction to African Archaeology - part 2
- Introduction to African Archaeology - part 3
- Introduction into African Rock Art
- Africa Physical Settings: Geography and Climate
- Africa Physical Settings: Sources for understanding environmental change
1
Readings
- Africa South of the Sahara
Teaching resources and Bibliography
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5
Readings
5
Readings
- Introduction to Archaeology
- Introduction to African Archaeology
- World Geography. Africa
- Worldmark. Encyclopedia of the Nations. Africa
- Africa Physical Settings: Sources for understanding environmental change
Activity 1
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1
Readings
1
Readings
- Reflections of week 1
Evaluate your knowledge
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Quiz 1
Week presentation
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2
Videos
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2
Readings
2
Videos
- Introduction to Archaeological Methods. Part I
- Introduction to Archaeological Methods. Part II
2
Readings
- Introduction to Archaeological Methods
- Teaching team of the week
Videos
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15
Videos
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8
Readings
15
Videos
- Archaeological Survey: Ground, Aerial and Subsurface Reconnaissance
- Archaeological Survey using Mobile Applications
- Archaeobotany: The study of Charcoal
- Archaeobotany: The study of pollen
- Animal Bones: Technology
- Animal Bones: Function
- Introduction into Lithic Technology
- Introduction into Micromorphology
- Introduction into the study of pottery
- Archaeometry : The study of pottery
- Human Remains: Introduction to Biological Anthropology. Part I
- Human Remains: Introduction to Biological Anthropology. Part II
- Human Remains: Introduction to Archaeogenetics
- Rock Art Methodology
- Introduction to Zooarchaeology
8
Readings
- Archaeological survey - Ground reconnaissance
- Archaeobotany: The study of Charcoal
- Archaeobotany: The study of pollen
- The lithic technology of holley shelter, Kwazulu-natal, and its place within the MSA of Southern Africa
- The Middle Stone Age of South Africa
- Introduction into Micromorphology
- Human Remains Introduction to Biological Anthropology
- Introduction to Zooarchaeology
Teaching resources and Bibliography
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14
Readings
14
Readings
- Introduction to Archaeological Methods
- Archaeological survey - Ground reconnaissance
- Archaeological Survey using Mobile Applications
- Archaeobotany: The study of Charcoal
- Archaeobotany: The study of pollen
- Animal Bones: Technology and Function
- Introduction into Micromorphology
- Introduction into the study of pottery
- Archaeometry : The study of pottery
- Human Remains Introduction to Biological Anthropology
- Introduction to Zooarchaeology
- The role of zooarchaeology
- Importance of geoarchaeology
- The varied roles that animals play in modern and prehistoric societies
Activity 2
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1
Readings
1
Readings
- Reflections of week 2
Evaluate your knowledge
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Quiz 2
Week presentation
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Introduction to African Heritage
1
Readings
- Teaching team of the week
Videos
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6
Videos
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2
Readings
6
Videos
- The Intrinsic value of Heritage
- Heritage as a tool for Local Development: Sustainable and Responsible Tourism
- Heritage Management in Namibia
- Community Heritage Management in Namibia: The Daureb Mountain Guides
- DAI networking in Africa
- ICArEHB - Interdisciplinary Center for Archeology and Evolution of Human Behavior
2
Readings
- Walata y Tichitt
- DAI networking in Africa (Lectures)
Teaching resources and Bibliography
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2
Readings
2
Readings
- Digital Management of Rock Art
- The relevance of prehistoric rock art in the present
Activity 3
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1
Readings
1
Readings
- Reflections of week 3
Evaluate your knowledge
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Quiz 3
Week presentation
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Introduction to Module 4
1
Readings
- Teaching team of the week
Videos
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5
Videos
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4
Readings
5
Videos
- Contacts of hunter-gatherers and early farming communities in todays Southern Mozambique
- Cultivated Landscapes - Archaeobotanical research in the Westafrican Savanna
- De-greening of the Sahara - Archaeobotanical research in Northern Chad
- The Stone Age of Mozambique: Niassa & Massingir
- The rock paintings of the Upper Brandberg
4
Readings
- Preliminary results from recent Iron Age excavations in Southern Mozambique
- Rock Art in Mozambique
- De-greening of the Sahara (Lectures)
- The rock paintings of the Upper Brandberg (Lectures)
Teaching resources and Bibliography
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6
Readings
6
Readings
- Compositions in the figural rock art of the Daureb, Namibia
- Epistemic Aspects of Indigenous Knowledge and its Implications for the Archaeology of Prehistoric Human Tracks
- Holocene high-altitude vegetation dynamics on Emi Koussi,Tibesti Mountains (Chad, Central Sahara)
- Middle Stone Age starch acquisition in the Niassa Rift, Mozambique
- Portable art and personal ornaments from Txina-Txina: a new Later Stone Age site in the Limpopo River Valley, southern Mozambique
- Links
Activity 4
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1
Readings
1
Readings
- Reflections of week 4
Evaluate your knowledge
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Quiz 4
Auto Summary
Discover the rich cultural heritage of Africa through the "Archaeology and Heritage of Africa" course, a comprehensive program in the Arts & Humanities domain offered by Coursera. This foundational course, lasting approximately 1020 minutes, delves into the continent's diverse historical landscape, from the earliest hominin fossils to ancient civilizations and vibrant rock art sites. Developed by the German Archaeological Institute with collaborations from prestigious institutions like the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Eduardo Mondlane University, it features insights from global experts. Participants will explore new archaeological methods, understand the role of local communities in preserving heritage sites, and study fascinating case studies directly from researchers in the field. Ideal for those passionate about history and archaeology, the course is available under the Starter subscription, providing an accessible entry point to this captivating subject. Embark on a journey to uncover Africa's past and its enduring legacy today.
Sofia Fonseca
Jörg Linstädter