Approach

pre- and protohistory/prehistoric archaeology is a discipline in the field of cultural history. It researches archaeological sources – excavations, finds, contexts – from the beginnings of humankind through to the Early Middle Ages.

In our Department, teaching and research in pre- and protohistory covers the entire range of the subject and is undertaken from a European perspective.
In teaching, the emphasis is put on settlement, economic and societal archaeology, on human ecology, on material science and archaeometry as well as on the development of methods and theories.
Research focuses on the prehistory of the Alps, on the archaeology of the Adriatic and on the European Metal Ages. Further expert groups work in the fields of protohistorical archaeology, archaeobiology and experimental archaeology.

As archaeologists we are committed to internationally established guidelines in dealing with evidence of the past, in particular to the Malta Convention and the Codes of Practice of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA).