Availability:
Available to internal and external students in first semester of every second year.

Students who have completed ARPA 350 may not enrol in this unit.

Coordinator: Prof Iain Davidson

Residential School: This unit has a Mandatory Residential School 22-24 April.

Objectives: Students who successfully complete this unit should:

• have developed their ability to think through complex archaeological problems, and their understanding of the theories that deal with diverse material traces;
• have acquired a general knowledge of the issues and problems relating to archaeological units, typology, seriation, sampling, site formation, and site structure;
• have developed your ability to read and comprehend papers dealing with archaeological theory;
• have developed the ability to converse and write in a manner appropriate to a professional archaeologist.

Content:
The unit builds on the knowledge from ARPA 103, or equivalent, and studies particular problems which occur in several regions and time periods of Australian prehistory. Students will be expected to explore the theoretical implications of these problems. Topics include methodological concepts, subsistence reconstruction and general theories. There will be a one-hour lecture and a two-hour seminar each week and a residential school for externals.

Assessment:
Assessment will be based on tests (six for internal students at 5% each; two for externals at 15% each), readings, participation in one forum dealing with a theoretical issue (15%), a poster addressing a practical/theoretical problem (15%), and a problem-based take-home final test (40%).

Prescribed Books and Readings:
Please contact the Administrative Assistant for this information.