This course focuses on nomads and exploration of ancient nomads through analysis of recent nomadic societies across the world from an anthropological and archaeological point of view. The study of recent nomads is crucial in order to to understand the dynamics of past nomadic life style, reasons behind of their migrations, patterns of migrations and observe manifestation of material culture in their daily life.
This seminar focuses on exploration of ancient nomads through analysis of recent nomadic societies across the world from an anthropological and archaeological point of view. The study of recent nomads is crucial in order to to understand the dynamics of past nomadic life style, reasons behind of their migrations, patterns of migrations and observe manifestation of material culture in their daily life. The seminar addresses problems associated with the study of those mobile people in archaeology by critically reviewing archaeological, anthropological, ethnographical, and historical literature and current methodological and theoretical approaches that have been applied to the study of nomads in archaeology. Participants of the seminar will examine the definition of some archaeologically debatable concepts of “nodamism”, “ sedantarism” and “ transhumance”; review the current literature of how nomads have been explored in archaeological contexts and discuss their history and origins. The course will be fostered with cross- disciplinary dialogues, lectures by guest speakers and documentary films.