Undergraduate - UnitATS3543 - Archaeology of Indigenous Australia

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	School of Geography and Environmental Science
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Professor Ian McNiven; Dr Jeremy Ash

Notes

Previously coded GES3060

Synopsis

The subject critically examines the range of techniques and theoretical frameworks used by archaeologists to understand Australia's 50,000-year plus Indigenous history. The focus will be archaeological sites and debates associated with the interpretation of excavated cultural materials. Issues covered include the origins of the first Australians, processes of continental colonisation, responses to environmental change and sea level change, human environmental impacts, broad-scale social changes; and responses to Europeans on the colonial frontier. Students will also examine long-term changes in the development of trading networks, art, social organisation and burial practices.

Outcomes

The overarching aims are to provide students with a broad understanding of how archaeologists have constructed a long-term picture of Australia's Indigenous past. On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:

Appreciate the broad range of techniques used by archaeologists to infer behaviour from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural sites and material culture.

Develop advanced skills in critically evaluating major debates and contentious theoretical issues in Australian Indigenous archaeology.

Understand key cultural changes over the past 50,000 years of Australian's Indigenous past.

Appreciate the diversity of Indigenous Australians who in different parts of the continent developed different cultures and lifeways.

Appreciate debates concerning the origins of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders from an archaeological perspective.

Assessment

Oral presentation (500 words):10%
Short paper related to seminar presentation (1000 words): 20%
Essay (3000 words):60%
Tutorial participation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Ian McNiven; Dr Jeremy Ash

Workload requirements

3 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Ancient cultures
Indigenous cultures and histories

Prerequisites

A gateway unit in Ancient Cultures, Indigenous Cultures and Histories, Geography, climate and physical environments or permission of the unit coordinator.