Current course offerings

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

Course description

This course provides students with a practical introduction to a broad range of methods and techniques used in historical archaeology and archaeological science. Key themes in historical archaeology, including colonialism, capitalism and inequality in the modern world, are explored in detail through a range of real-world examples drawn from industry or research-led archaeological investigations. The course introduces students to the theory and method of key areas of historical archaeology, and the use of practical and integrated problem-solving laboratory-based exercises enables students to put into practice many of the concepts discussed throughout the course. Problem-based learning exercises and group work are run weekly in the archaeology laboratories in which students are required to describe, measure, draw, record and interpret historical archaeological artefacts from the School's reference collections. ARCS2050 Historical Archaeology introduces historical archaeological models and practice, with emphasis on practical skills acquisition. A range of case studies from Australia and other countries are presented. Students develop a practical understanding of the role of artefacts in identifying, dating, and interpreting historical archaeological places.

Archived offerings