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ARPA304 Archaeology: Studying the Human Past

Updated: 06 April 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites 24cp or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions ARCH100 or ARPA104
Notes None
Combined Units ARPA104 - Archaeology: Studying the Human Past
Coordinator(s) Peter Grave (pgrave@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit introduces the practice, method and theories, history, and achievements of archaeology. Through lectures and practical sessions it prepares students for the in-depth critical study of the archaeology of any region or time. Topics include the nature and aims of archaeology, the history of the discipline, types of evidence and their recovery, dating, the scope of archaeological enquiry, the place of archaeology in contemporary life, and the ethics of archaeology with respect to the present and the past.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice
ISBN: 9780500287194
Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P., Thames & Hudson 5th ed. 2008
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 4 10%
Assessment Notes
Annotated bibliography.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 3, 6 GA: 1-6
Online Quizzes 1-8 20%
Assessment Notes
8 weekly online quizzes: Total weight 20%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2-6 GA: 1-6
Project 1 25% 1000
Assessment Notes
Project structure exercise
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 3, 4, 6 GA: 1-6
Project 2 45% 2500
Assessment Notes
Word project
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA: 1-6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. present a narrative account showing broad and comparative knowledge of the archaeology of a number of chronological periods;
  2. discuss the concepts and application of methods used in collecting, analysing and interpreting archaeological data using diverse sources of evidence;
  3. explain how to apply appropriate scholarly, theoretical and scientific principles and concepts to archaeological problems;
  4. explain how the causes of variation in the reliability of different classes of evidence from archaeological contexts (such as taphonomy, depositional processes and recovery processes);
  5. make critical and effective use of information retrieval skills using paper-based and electronic resources;
  6. describe the ethical and legal frameworks for research and professional practice in archaeology.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the archaeology discipline will be taught through lectures and tutorials. It will be assessed in all four assessments. 		True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught communication skills through written and oral feedback on the assignment and participation component of the course. Students studying on-campus will learn valuable communication skills through participation in tutorials (this will include debates and small group work). Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practice their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through essays). 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
The essence of this unit is its global perspective. To complete it even moderately successfully, you will see inevitably that the development of civilization can only be understood when studied in a regional and global context. Civilization is an achievement of humanity, and cannot be attributed to the genius of particular peoples. Rather, it is the result of a set of processes that begin in some circumstances, but not in others. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant criminological literature and how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed (through the essay) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature 		True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills). In addition, students who attend tutorials will be provided with the skills to debate contentious topics and develop their understanding of a topic through group activities. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct the assignment questions and to integrate theory and literature into their answer. Students will need to work out how to address the questions and where the most appropriate material is to answer the questions. 		True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will be taught about their professional responsibilities as a researcher to provide balanced and accurate research. In addition, students will be taught that they have a social responsibility to question and challenge some 'facts'. This will be assessed and taught through their responses to the assignment questions and discussions in tutorials or online postings. 		True True
8 Team Work
Students will practice their teamwork skills through participating in tutorials, or online discussion postings. They will be required to discuss the weekly topics with their fellow students in a thoughtful and respectful manner (practice). 		True
   

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