Interdisciplinary approaches to Gender Archaeology

This course offers the opportunity for students to examine the research lines within archaeology and history that are linked to the material culture of women. It aims to provide a holistic approach to gender archaeology through diverse paths of investigation including stable isotopes, ancient DNA, proteomics, organic residue analysis, didactics, museum studies, osteology, and field excavation.

Outline

The Course will consist of five days of lectures, practical sessions, and museum visits followed by a one-day excursion. Topics covered are: 

• International perspectives on Gender Archaeology and gender equality in Academia

• Pregnancy, Motherhood and Infancy in past societies

• Female representation in Art and Iconography

• Role of women in Education and Heritage

Learning outcomes

The students will learn how to apply the gender perspective in Archaeology, (specifically in Prehistory) and to identify this approach based on several cases studies in different formats: written documents, images, press media, scientific reports and exhibitions. They will consider not only several topics involving women´s role and impact in the past (child care, funerary practices, art…), but also how different fields of research have evolved to take into account the question of gender (genetic analysis to determine the sex of human remains, proteomics to investigate weaning practices…), and how the results are conveyed in the museum exhibitions and media reports. This approach is based on several cases studies in different formats: written documents, images, press media, scientific reports and exhibitions.

Locations

4^th and 5^th of July: Alte Aula Tübingen, Münzgasse 30, 72070 Tübingen

6^th – 8^th of July: Neue Aula, Großer Senat, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, 72074 Tübingen

A guided tour in the Museum Alte Kultur Schloß Hohentübingen is foreseen (https://www.unimuseum.uni-tuebingen.de/de/museen-im-schloss/museum-alte-kulturen.html)

Excursion

9^th of July: excursion to the Ach Valley to visit prehistoric cave sites (Hohle Fels and Geißenklösterle and/or Sirgenstein) and Urgeschichtliches Museum Blaubeuren, Kirchplatz 10, 89143 Blaubeuren (https://www.urmu.de/de/Home)

Course assessment 

Brief description of the course evaluation

During the Summer School: students will be asked to give a short (ca. 5 minutes) oral presentation summarizing the outcome of each afternoon session of group work.
After the Summer School: the students will be asked to write an essay (ca. 3000 words) of one of the given topics distributed and briefly discussed during the course.
Each part will be evaluated by a committee of participating instructors.