The Institute was founded in 1930 as the Institute of Prehistory and Protohistory. The first head of the Institute was Prof. PhDr. Emanuel Šimek (1930-1958). The Institute, which changed its name several times during its history (Institute of Prehistory, Department of Prehistory, Department of Archaeology and Museology), experienced a period of substantial progress under Prof. PhDr. František Kalousek (1958-1970). Prof. PhDr. Borivoj Dostál, DrSc. (1990-1994) was appointed head of the renewed department, after the so-called "normalization period" when the Institute temporarily lost its independence. Next four years Institute was lead by Prof.PhDr. Vladimír Podborský, DrSc. (from 1.4.1994). The current head of the Institute is Doc.PhDr. Zdeněk Měřínský, CSc. (from 4.1.1999).

The Department of Archaeology at the Institute is comprised of seven staff offices, a lecture room containing the school archaeological collection, a library of about 18,000 volumes, a reading room, and a ceramic laboratory with a depository. Two complete field-research base camps, at Těšetice-Kyjovice near Znojmo and Pohansko near Břeclav, also belong to the Institute. The libraries, collections and other facilities of the Archaeological Institute of the Moravian Museum, the Archaeological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Archaeological Conservation, and the Monument Care Institute, all in Brno, as well as the resources of the State Institute for Monument Care in Prague are available to students and members of our Institute. In addition, the Institute cooperates with a number of foreign universities and archaeological centres, and in the context of an interdisciplinary approach the Institute also cooperates with a number of Institutes of related interests.

A vessel of the Moravian Painted Pottery culture(Photo: J. Špaček)

The study of Archaeology focuses on the Prehistory and Early Mediaeval history of Europe, and mainly on Central Europe. The subjects of study include methods of excavation of the archaeological resource, their conservation, classification and historical interpretation, as well as on knowledge of material culture, and within the protohistoric or early historic period on an ability to work with the oldest wtitten records. The link of archaeology to the humanities requires a general philosophical background and a knowledge of languages; on the other hand, the practical side of archaeology also requires technical and computer skills together with certain management skills. The admission examination, with written and oral components, serves as proof of competency for studies in Archaeology. Archaeology can be studied only as a full-time (internal) programme, either in the form of single subject study, or in combination with subjects like history, other historically linked sciences, ethnology, art history, classical archaeology or religious studies. It is possible to make other subject combination.

The basic study material is the textbook History of Primeval and Protohistorical Times (Dejiny praveku a ranne doby dejinne , Brno 1997). Responding to modern trends in archaeology at an international level is the second basic textbook Computar Studies in Archaeology(Pocitacova podpora vyuky archeologie ,Brno 1997). Also available for consultation is the brochure Annotations and Curricula for Lectures in Archaeology at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University (Anotace a sylaby prednasek oboru archeologie FF MU) containing the basic recommended literature for particular courses and requirements for exams, colloquia (exams without marks) and credit requirements. All three publications are available only in Czech version.

The study of Archaeology is divided into two levels - Masters (undergraduate) and Doctorate (postgraduate).

Masters studies in Archaeology is a 5-year programme divided into two cycles:

• the first cycle lasts three years. Students gain knowledge about the Prehistoric and Early Mediaeval periods of Central Europe (with an emphasis on knowledge of material culture resources), field theory and practice and also laboratory and documentation techniques. The first cycle ends with the First Comprehensive Examination, taken after the 6^th term (with a maximum 1 year extension)
• the second cycle lasts two years. Its framework includes the study of problematic issues of European Prehistory and the Early Mediaeval period, research methodology, specialized seminars and historical outlines. After the successful defence of the Masters degree thesis and the completion of the State Leaving Examination, taken after the 10^th term (within 3 years of the first examination), the student convocates as a Master of Arts (Mgr.)

Part of the programme is participation in a 3-week archaeological field school after the 1^st and 2^nd years of studies. The summer field school takes place at the Institute´s sites at Těšetice-Kyjovice and Břeclav-Pohansko, and sometimes also at the Rokštejn castle. The field work is supervised by staff members appointed by the Institute. After completion of the 3^rd year of study students can choose their field practice in accordance with their own preferences (field practice abroad and at least a 14-day placement in the Monument Care Institutes of the CR is recommended). The location of pre-thesis practice is decided by the tutor supervising the thesis.
 

The Institute also offers intrnal (full-time) and external (part-time) Postgraduate Doctoral research as preparation for an academic career. Selection of students for this programme depends on an initial interview. This programme can last from 3 to 7 years. After a successful dissertation defence and passing Doctoral Examination the student obtains the title Doctor (Ph.D.)

Both Master and Doctoral study can be interrupted for serious reasons, but this is only possible with the Dean´s permission. However, the maximum length of either type of study must not exceed 7 years. It is also possible, and in case of the doctoral study even desirable, to do part of the study at another Czech faculty or even abroad. Academic degrees acquired abroad require assessment and approval within the Czech Republic.

 

 

A Venus of MPP culture from Těšetice-Kyjovice (Photo: J. Špaček)

Teaching at the Institute is based on the traditional research projects and on the publishing activity of the Institute´s members. Our primary long term interest is the Neolithic and Eneolithic, particularly the so-called Moravian Painted Pottery culture, the Urnfield period and the Hallstatt culture, the Early Slavonic era (namely the period of Great Moravia) and the Early to High Middle Ages. During research at the Neolithic settlement of the MPP culture, at Těšetice-Kyjovice near Znojmo, one of the earliest prehistoric social/cult circular enclosures (a so-called rondel) was discovered, excavated and interpretated as the first in the Central Europe.Currently the Institute is investigating the rondel issue within a project, financed by the Czech State Grant Agency, called the Prehistoric Social/Cult Architecture in Moravia. International recognition has also been attributed to the methodological monograph The Numeric Code of Moravian Paited Pottery (Numerický kód moravské malované keramiky, Brno 1977) and to the Tesetice-Kyjovice monograph series, currently up to its 4th volume.

 

Activities in the field of Slavonic archaeology are based on research at Pohansko, one of the major Great Moravian centres of the 9^th century. On this site a compound enclosure - one of the first of its kind - with and adjacent stone Cristian church and rich cemetery were uncovered, excavated and evaluated. The Pohansko research also resulted in discovery of the earliest Slavonic settlement with Prague-type ceramics, the layout of production areas within the fortified hillsite, and a wider settlement area occupied by the military. An issue of interest is also the hinterland of the of the fortified hillsite with long-term settlement from the Age of Migration until the Early Middle Ages. The Břeclav-Pohansko monograph series, currently up to its 4^th volume, has achieved international recognition.

In recent years the Institute has also taken on research at the mediaeval castle Rokštejn, in the Jihlava region.
 

Research activities of the Institute´s members during the last decade have resulted in 6 monographs (with 4 forthcoming). In addition partial research results are published in the archaeological issues of the Faculty bulletin (SPFFBU), as well as in other Czech and foreign journals. The Moravian-Silesian Archaeological Club (Moravsko-slezský archeologický klub; MSAK) and the editorial office of the journal Pravěk are also resident at the Institute. The Institute also takes part in the activities of the Býči skála Foundation (Nadace Býčí skála), which aims to renew excavation in this world-reknowned cave, in the Moravian Karst nature reserve.