About the department

The Department of Prehistory and Near Eastern Archaeology was established in 2017 under the leadership of Gábor Kalla, as one of the successors of the Department of Prehistoric and Early Historical Archaeology. The department is responsible for the education of the specializations in prehistoric archaeology and the archaeology of ancient Near East.

The teaching and research activities of the staff focus on the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages of the Carpathian Basin, as well as the prehistoric and ancient cultures of the Near East (Mesopotamia, Syria-Palestine, Iran, Anatolia).

Head of Department

Dr. Szabó Gábor habilitált egyetemi docens

Areas of Specialization

Prehistoric Archaeology

In the Prehistoric Archaeology specialization, students at the BA level acquire fundamental knowledge of the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages of the Carpathian Basin, as well as the international context of these periods.

At the MA level, the focus shifts to theoretical approaches within a broad regional framework (from the Near East to Western Europe). Topics include, for example, the technologies of transport and mobility, food acquisition and preparation, social organization and household structures, religion, art and symbolism, as well as war and conflict.

At both levels, seminars teach students the methodology of writing academic papers.

Through elective courses, students have the opportunity to explore related or more specialized fields of archaeology and to learn the methodologies of those areas.

As part of excavations, students can participate in research on Paleolithic and Neolithic sites linked to departmental projects, contribute to the Bronze Hoard Research Program, and take part in large-scale preventive excavations carried out by the department.

Archaeology of the Ancient Near East

In the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East specialization, BA-level students are introduced to the major cultural spheres of the region. While the primary focus is on the archaeology of Mesopotamia, separate semesters are dedicated to Syria, Anatolia, and Iran as well. At the MA level, the program adopts a more theoretical approach, with semester topics including settlement history, household structures, burial practices, iconography, religion, and transportation.

Seminars at both levels teach students the methodology of writing academic papers. Through elective courses, students have the opportunity to explore related or more specialized areas of archaeology and to learn their respective methodologies.

Students who wish to deepen their knowledge in this field are encouraged to take cuneiform language courses (Akkadian and Sumerian) offered by the Assyriology program.

As part of archaeological fieldwork, students have the opportunity to participate in excavations in Iraq, specifically at the tell settlement of Grd-i Tle, and to contribute to the analysis of the unearthed material.