Our Approach

Research  

Although our research projects are focused on prehistory, they cover a broad chronological spectrum—from the earliest phases of human evolution to contemporary societies and communities connected to prehistoric, archaeological, and heritage research. Various research groups conduct their work from Africa to the Mediterranean, with a particular emphasis on the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, for over 20 years, the department has maintained a strong connection with South American and Near Eastern archaeology, leading pioneering projects in both regions that combine archaeological fieldwork with ethnoarchaeology.

Teaching

The department’s faculty primarily teaches in the UAB’s Bachelor's Degree in Archaeology, where training in prehistory begins. The postgraduate programmes coordinated by the department include the Master's in Prehistoric Archaeology, the Master's in Digital Humanities and Heritage, and the Doctoral Programme in Prehistoric Archaeology.

The Department of Prehistory also contributes to teaching in the Bachelor's Degrees in History, and Humanities at the UAB.

Outreach

Following the criteria of the European Council for the protection of archaeological heritage and the societal value of cultural heritage (Valletta Convention 1992; Faro Convention 2005), we view heritage as both a tool for scientific study and a source of collective memory and sociocultural action. For this reason, the department develops multiple educational and cultural activation programmes, while systematically collaborating with public administrations to enhance the societal impact of the archaeological research we conduct in the region.