Prerequisites:

There are no specific prerequisites. At least a passive knowledge of German, English, and Italian is recommended.

Content (Syllabus outline):

The course explores the current state of research and fundamental issues in the archaeology of the metal ages, with a focus on the Late Bronze Age and the Early and Late Iron Ages in the broader southeastern Alpine region. Emphasis is placed on understanding cultural processes and transformations over time, as well as on critically evaluating archaeological interpretations.

Core topics include:

• understanding the historical development of archaeological methodology and theory, with the inclusion of contemporary approaches such as gender and identity archaeology;
• critical evaluation of primary archaeological sources, including the analysis of gender differentiation in material culture and social structures;
• typochronology, distribution, technology, and function of non-ceramic archaeological finds (e.g. metal objects, tools, weapons), with attention to potential gender-specific patterns of use and distribution;
• typochronology and technology of settlement and funerary ceramics as a basis for interpreting technological and social changes reflected in grave goods;
• analysis of prehistoric societies through funerary finds, settlements, hoards, economic resources, and landscapes, with special focus on gender and social differentiation across diverse archaeological contexts;
• reconstruction of settlement patterns based on fundamentally interdisciplinary archaeological research;
• interpretative potential of scientific analyses and digital methods in archaeology and heritage studies.

Readings

(Pozna) bronasta doba / (Late) Bronze Age:

• DULAR, J. 1999, Altere, mittlere und jungere Bronzezeit in Slowenien – Forschungsstand und Probleme (Starejša, srednja in mlajša bronasta doba v Sloveniji – stanje raziskav in problemi). – Arheološki vestnik 50, 81–96.
• DULAR, J. 2013, Severovzhodna Slovenija v pozni bronasti dobi / Nordostslowenien in der späten Bronzezeit. – Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 27.
• HÄNSEL, B. 1968, Beitrage zur Chronologie der mittleren Bronzezeit im Karpatenbecken. – Beiträge zur ur- und frühgeschichtlichen Archäologie des Mittelmeer- Kulturraumes 7–8.
• HANSEN, S. 1994, Studien zu den Metalldeponierungen wahrend der alteren Urnenfelderzeit zwischen Rhonetal und Karpatenbecken. – Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie 21.
• KARAVANIĆ, S. 2009, The Urfield Culture in Continental Croatia. – BAR. International Series 2036.
• MARCHESETTI, C. 1903, I Castellieri preistorici di Trieste e della regione Giulia. – Trieste.
• MÜLLER-KARPE, H. 1959, Beiträge zur Chronologie der Urnenfelderzeit nordlich und südlich der Alpen. – Römisch-Germanische Forschungen 22.
• Prähistorische Bronzefunde, Abt. I-XX. München, Stuttgart.
• PJZ 1983 – Praistorija jugoslavenskih zemalja 4, Bronzano doba, Sarajevo.
• ŠKVOR JERNEJČIČ, B. 2020, The Earliest Cremation Burials in the South-Eastern Alpine Region from the Middle Bronze Age – Signs of Intercultural Connections with the Northern Carpathian Basin. Praehistorische Zeitschrift, Vol. 95 (Issue 2), 447–490.
• TERŽAN, B. (ur. / ed.) 1995/1996, Depojske in posamezne kovinske najdbe bakrene in bronaste dobe na Slovenskem / Hoards and Individual Metal Finds from the Eneolithic and Bronze Ages in Slovenia 1. – Katalogi in monografije 29 in 30.
• TERŽAN, B., M. ČREŠNAR (ur. / eds.) 2014, Absolutno datiranje bronaste in železne dobe na Slovenskem / Absolute Dating of Bronze¬and Iron Ages in Slovenia. – Katalogi in monografije 40.
• TERŽAN, B., E. BORGNA, P. TURK (ur. / eds.) 2016, Depo iz Mušje jame pri Škocjanu na Krasu. Depojske najdbe bronaste in železne dobe na Slovenskem III / Il ripostiglio della Grotta delle Mosche presso San Canziano del Carso. Ripostigli delle eta del bronzo e del ferro in Slovenia III. – Katalogi in monografije 42.
• VINSKI-GASPARINI, K. 1973, Kultura polja sa zarama u sjevernoj Hrvatskoj, Zadar.

Starejša železna doba / Early Iron Age:

• DULAR, J. 1982, Halštatska keramika v Sloveniji (Die Grabkeramik der älteren Eisenzeit in Slowenien). – Dela 1. razreda SAZU 23.
• DULAR, J., S. TECCO HVALA 2007, South-Eastern Slovenia in the Early Iron Age. Settlement – Economy – Society / Jugovzhodna Slovenija v starejši železni dobi. Poselitev – gospodarstvo – družba. – Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 12.
• DULAR, J., S. TECCO HVALA (ur. / eds.) 2018, Železnodobno naselje Most na Soči. Razprave / The Iron Age settlement at Most na Soči. Treatises. – Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae 34.
• EGG, M. 1986, Italische Helme. Studien zu den älter eisenzeitlichen Helmen Italiens und der Alpen, Mainz.
• EGG, M. 1996, Das hallstattzeitliche Fürstengrab von Strettweg bei Judenburg in der Obersteiermark, Mainz.
• EGG, M., D. Kramer (ur. / eds.) 2013, Die hallstattzeitlichen Fürstengräber von Kleinklein in der Steiermark. Der Kröllkogel, Mainz.
• GABROVEC, S. 1999, 50 Jahre Archäologie der älteren Eisenzeit in Slowenien / 50 let arheologije starejše železne dobe v Sloveniji. – Arheološki vestnik 50, 145–188.
• GABROVEC, S., B. TERŽAN 2008 (2010), Stična II/2. Gomile starejše železne dobe. Razprave (Grabhügel aus der älteren Eisenzeit. Studien), Katalogi in monografije 38.
• GUTJAHR, Ch., G. TIEFENGRABER (ur./ eds.) 2015, Beiträge zur Hallstattzeit am Rande der Südostalpen – Akten des 2. Internationalen Symposiums am 10. und 11. Juni 2010 in Wildon [Steiermark / Österreich]. Rahden/Westf.
• GUŠTIN, M. 1979, Notranjska. K začetkom železne dobe na severnem Jadranu / Zu den Anfängen der Eisenzeit an der nördlichen Adria. – Katalogi in monografije 17.
• Hochdorf 1, 1985 – 6, 2006. Stuttgart.
• LUCKE, W. in O.-H. FREY 1962, Die Situla in Providence (Rhode Island). Ein Beitrag zur Situlenkunst des Osthallstattkreises. – Römisch-Germanische Forschungen 26.
• MARZATICO, F., P. GLEIRSCHER (ur. / eds.) 2004, Guerrieri, principi ed eroi fra il Danubio e il Po dalla Preistoria all’Alto Medioevo. Trento.
• KRIŽ, B. 2019, Kapiteljska njiva. Način pokopa v starejši železni dobi (Kapiteljska njiva. Burial rite in the Early Iron Age). − Carniola archaeologica 8.
• PJZ 1987 – Praistorija jugoslavenskih zemalja 5, Željezno doba, Sarajevo
• TECCO HVALA, S. 2012, Magdalenska gora. Družbena struktura in grobni rituali železnodobne skupnosti / Social structure and burial rites of the Iron Age community. – Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 26.
• TERŽAN, B. 1976, Certoška fibula (Die Certosafibel). – Arheološki vestnik 27 (1977), 317–443.
• TERŽAN, B. 1990, Starejša železna doba na Slovenskem Štajerskem / The Early Iron Age in Slovenian Styria. – Katalogi in monografije 25.
• TOMEDI, G. 2004, Das hallstattzeitliche Gräberfeld von Frög. Budapest.
• TRACHSEL, M. 2004, Untersuchungen zur relativen und absoluten Chronologie der Hallstattzeit. Bonn.

Mlajša železna doba / Late Iron Age

• BOŽIČ, D. 1999, Die Erforschung der Latènezeit in Slowenien seit Jahr 1964 / Raziskovanje latenske dobe na Slovenskem po letu 1964. – Arheološki vestnik 50, 189–213.
• BOŽIČ, D. 2008, Late La Tène-Roman cemetery in Novo mesto. Ljubljanska cesta and Okrajno glavarstvo / Poznolatensko-rimsko grobišče v Novem mestu. Ljubljanska cesta in Okrajno glavarstvo. – Katalogi in monografije 39.
• BOŽIČ, D., FEUGÈRE, M. 2004, Les instruments de l‘ écriture. – Gallia. Archëologie de la France antique 61, 21–41.
• BRUNAUX J.-L., RAPIN A. 1988, Gournay 2, Boucliers et lances. Dépôts et trophées. Paris.
• DÉCHELETTE, J. 1927, Manuel d’archéologie préhistorique, celtique et gallo-romaine 4, Second âge du fer ou époque de La Tène. Paris.
• DEMETZ, S. 1999, Fibeln der Spätlatène- und f rühen römischen Kaiserzeit in den Alpenländern. – Frühgeschichtliche und Provinzialrömische Archäologie. Materialien und Forschungen 4, Rahden/Westfalen.
• DIZDAR, M. 2013, Zvonimirovo – Veliko polje, Groblje latenske kulture / A Cemetery of the La Tène Culture 1. – Monographiae Instituti Archaeologici 8.
• DRNIĆ, I. 2015, Kupinovo. Groblje latenske kulture / Kupinovo. A La Tène culture cemetery. Katalozi i monografije Arheološkoga muzeja u Zagrebu 12. Zagreb.
• ENDERT, D. 1991, Die Bronzefunde aus dem Oppidum von Manching. – Ausgrabungen in Manching 13, Stuttgart.
• GEBHARD, R. 1991. Die Fibeln aus dem Oppidum von Manching. Stuttgart.
• GUŠTIN, M. 1991, Posočje in der jüngeren Eisenzeit / Posočje v mlajši železni dobi. – Katalogi in monografije 27.
• GUŠTIN, M. 2011, On the Celtic tribe of Taurisci. Local identity and regional contacts in the ancient world. – M. Guštin, M. Jevtić (eds./ ur.), The eastern Celts: the communities between the Alps and the Black Sea, Koper, Beograd, 119–128.
• JACOBI, G. 1974, Werkzeug und Gerät aus dem oppidum von Manching. – Die Ausgrabungen in Manching 5, Wiesbaden.
• LAHARNAR, B. 2022, From Ocra to Albion. Notranj ska between prehistory and antiquity / Od Okre do Albijske gore. Notranjska med prazgodovino in antiko. – Katalogi in monografije 45.
• LEJARS, T. 1994, Gournay III. Les fourreaux d‘ épeé. Le sanctuaire de Gournay-sur-Aronde et l‘ armement des Celtes de La Tène moyenne, Paris

Objectives and competences:

The course provides students with an in-depth understanding of the archaeology of the metal ages—especially the Late Bronze Age and the Early and Late Iron Ages—as periods of intense cultural interaction, trade networks, social transformation, and technological innovation at the crossroads between the Danube region and the northern Adriatic.

Students will be trained in the interpretation of material culture across diverse archaeological contexts and in the identification of economic, social, and symbolic aspects of prehistoric communities. Emphasis is placed on modern archaeological methods and theoretical approaches, including interdisciplinary perspectives and the analysis of social structures, with particular attention to gender, status, and age. The course promotes independent research and the development of critical thinking.

Through this course, students will acquire the following:

General Competences:

• the ability to think critically and reflect on archaeological interpretations;
• the capacity for independent and responsible scientific research;
• advanced academic writing and oral presentation skills;
• an understanding of the importance of integrating social categories (e.g. gender, status, age) into archaeological analysis.

Subject-Specific Competences:

• knowledge of the key characteristics of the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age in the southeastern Alpine region and their connections with the Adriatic and Danubian areas;
• an understanding of cultural and technological dynamics based on the analysis of archaeological finds in various contexts (burials, settlements, hoards);
• the ability to apply typochronological and functional analyses to small finds (e.g. ceramics, metals, tools, ornaments, weapons);
• the ability to identify social structures and roles (including gender differentiation) based on archaeological evidence;
• proficiency in the application of modern archaeological and scientific methods as well as interdisciplinary approaches (e.g. GIS, bioarchaeology, archaeometry) in the interpretation of archaeological data.

Intended learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Describe the key characteristics of the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age in the studied region and situate them within a broader historical and cultural context.
2. Identify and analyze different types of archaeological material (e.g. ceramics, metals, grave goods) and explain their function and significance.
3. Compare archaeological data from various contexts (settlements, cemeteries, hoards, landscapes) and extract social and cultural characteristics of prehistoric communities.
4. Interpret archaeological finds in terms of social differentiation, including gender, status, and generational relations.
5. Apply interdisciplinary approaches (e.g. spatial analysis, scientific methods, digital tools) to gain deeper insight into archaeological sites.
6. Evaluate different archaeological theories and methodological approaches and select those most appropriate for a specific research question.
7. Produce an independent written scientific paper that includes critical source analysis and clearly structured argumentation.
8. Present research findings in an academically appropriate manner, both in written and oral form.

Learning and teaching methods:

Types of learning/teaching:

• Work in smaller groups or pair work
• Independent students work
• e-learning

Teaching methods:

• Explanation
• Conversation/discussion/debate
• Case studies
• Field work (e.g. company visits)

Assessment

• Long written assignments 70 %
• Presentations 20 %
• Final examination (written/oral) 10 %

Lecturer’s references

• GRAHEK, L. 2016, Stična : železnodobna naselbinska keramika / Stična : Iron Age settlement pottery. – Opera Instituti archaeologici Sloveniae 32.
• GRAHEK, L. 2024, The Colapians – the Iron Age people along The Kolpa River in South Eastern Slovenia : new discoveries. – Global journal of archaeology & anthropology 13/5, 1–6. DOI: 10.19080/GJAA.2024.13.555871.
• GRAHEK, L., O. KOVAČ 2020, Podzemelj – železnodobno središče v Beli krajini v luči novih raziskav / Podzemelj – an iron Age centre in Bela krajina, in the light of new research. – Arheološki vestnik 71, 435–467.
• GRAHEK, L. 2017, Nova odkritja grobov iz starejše in mlajše železne dobe na Viru pri Stični / Newly discovered graves from the Early and Late Iron Age at Vir pri Stični. – Arheološki vestnik 68, 197–244.
• GRAHEK, L. 2017, Iška Loka in grob iz Matene : nova odkritja o pozni bronasti dobi na Ljubljanskem barju / Iška Loka and the grave from Matena : New findings on the Late Bronze Age in the Ljubljana marshes. – Prilozi Instituta za arheologiju u Zagrebu 34, 101–121.
• GRAHEK, L. 2004, Halštatska gomila na Hribu v Metliki (A Hallstatt tumulus at Hrib in Metlika). – Arheološki vestnik 55, 111–206