Current course offerings

Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.

Course description

Archaeology studies the human past from humanity's earliest origins to the development of the modern world and is a vibrant profession in Australia at the forefront of managing the nation's cultural heritage. ARCA1000 is an introduction to the core concepts and principles of contemporary archaeology, considering its history, ethics and practices in global perspective. Case studies explore how archaeology investigates topics as diverse as where and when humans evolved, the development of art and symbolism, how past societies survived in the face of extreme climate change, developing partnerships with First Nations peoples to explore Australia's past and archaeology's role in politics, power and privilege, from colonial dispossession and enslavement to the impact of Black Lives Matter on our own practice. A key focus is understanding how archaeologists make and verify claims about the past through critical analysis of its material remains, and we explore the difference between archaeology as a formal academic discipline and the fantastical claims of pseudoarchaeology. Lectures are accompanied by problem-solving tutorials, and diverse assessments, including a video assignment and site significance reports, providing students with a gateway to professional practice in the discipline via the archaeology and archaeological science Extended Major/Major programs or a broad-based introduction for scholars in other areas of inquiry.

Archived offerings