Treasures of the Past - Hoard Finds in Context - APA555070

• Title: Treasures of the Past - Hoard Finds in Context
• Guaranteed by: Institute of Archaeology (21-UPRAV)
• Faculty: Faculty of Arts
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• Points: 0
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: winter s.:oral
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited / unknown (20)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; can be fulfilled in the future
• Guarantor: Mária Vargha, M.A. et M.A., Ph.D.; Jakub Jan Sawicki, Dr.
• Teacher(s): Jakub Jan Sawicki, Dr.; Mária Vargha, M.A. et M.A., Ph.D.

Annotation

Last update: Ing. Renata Šmidtová (23.08.2023)

Medieval treasure hoards are intriguing sources, studied by archaeologists, historians and art historians. Beyond
the – usually – fascinating objects of highest art quality of the epoch, they are time capsules preserving valuable
information about the political, social and economic history of their time The broader contexts of their deposition
changes in time and across space, and hoards unique biography tell a different story about the past. Furthermore,
the circumstances of their discovery (from Early Modern to recent times) allows to trace the change in approaches
to hoards themselves, but also to general understanding of the value of artefacts and the importance of their
cultural context, and de facto in the development of the archaeology as a whole discipline.
The aim of this course is to give a comprehensive view on the history of what is today Central Europe, through the
lenses of contextualising the hoard finds, dating from the Late Antique to the Late Medieval period. The course
aims to introduce interdisciplinary methods for interpreting medieval material culture, with special regard to hoard
finds’ unique character. By examples, we will explore the history of this area during the Middle Ages, and review
how diverse circumstances led to hoards finds related to various communities.
Classes will be held in blocks according to the timetable.

Aim of the course

Last update: Ing. Renata Šmidtová (15.06.2023)

The main objective of this course is to accustom students to interdisciplinary historical and archaeological analysis, on a complex and diversified topic such as medieval treasure hoards, in the form of guided (critical) reading of contemporary secondary literature. Students will be required to reflect and assess on the readings in class, discussing not only the topic itself, but methodology, argumentation, and sources.

Syllabus

Last update: Ing. Renata Šmidtová (23.08.2023)

Session 1 (02.10.2023):

Introduction - Material culture studies and medieval treasures. Sources and approaches.

Session 2 (02.10.2023):

The fall of the Roman Empire

Session 3 (09.10.2023):

Treasures of the Avars and Byzantium

Session 4 (09.10.2023):

Treasurs of the early states. Guest lecture by Naďa Profantová

Session 5 (23.10.2023):

Vikings in Central Europe? 11th century hack silver hoards

Session 6 (23.10.2023):

Treasures of the Mongol invasion

Session 7 (20.11.2023):

Cuman hoards? - Late medieval rural treasures

Session 8 (20.11.2023):

Local conflicts and goldsmiths?

Session 9 (04.12.2023):

The Black Death, Jewish pogroms and hoards

Session 10 (04.12.2023):

Late medieval urban hoards