Key facts
UNE unit code: ARPA510
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Not offered in 2026
- Yes
- No
- No
- 6
Unit information
Do you live to eat or eat to live? The socio-economic issues surrounding the production, consumption and ritual of food are key aspects of what it means to be human.
In this unit you will explore our relationship with food by bringing together archaeology, anthropology and history to examine the cultural, economic, environmental and sociological impacts of food. You will take a global perspective and use food to examine key archaeological issues, such as plant and animal domestication, urbanism, sedentism, trade, and migration.
Since all talk and no food is no fun, you will even use experimental archaeology to augment our understanding of the way in which food is transformed by, and transforms, the human situation.
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- critically appraise one's own and others' arguments and opinions in all aspects of archaeological analysis and interpretation;
- undertake advanced, independent, literature-based research;
- describe different analytical methods used to explore food in the archaeological record and its impact on society over time;
- apply an advanced theoretical and nuanced understanding of archaeological method and theory to practical questions; and
- demonstrate a deep understanding of cross-cultural differences in attitudes to food through time, and apply this new knowledge to understanding the pivotal role of food in modern societies.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Yes | 10% | All offerings | Reading Quiz No. Words: 500 |
| Assessment 2 | Yes | 30% | All offerings | Experimental Design Part 1 of 2-part Assessment No. Words: 2000 |
| Assessment 3 | Yes | 50% | All offerings | Final Experimental Project Part 2 of 2-part Assessment No. Words: 3000 |
| Assessment 4 | Yes | 10% | All offerings | Reading Quiz No. Words: 500 |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Recommended material may be held in the University Library — purchase is optional.
The Archaeology of Food: Identity, Politics and Ideology in the Prehistoric and Historic Past
ISBN: 9781108464062
Twiss, K.C., Cambridge University Press 1st ed. 2019
Text refers to: All offerings
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