THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES

Overview

In this subject, you will journey through 65,000 years of First Peoples settlement in Australia. Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and perspectives are embedded throughout this subject and you will learn through both Traditional and Western knowledge systems. You will investigate a series of major themes, including the first settlement of different parts of the continent; interactions with and adaptations to varied and changing environments; technological choices; and patterns of economy and land use. You will investigate a range of case studies to evaluate archaeological and ethnohistorical information and how they have been used to provide insights into past ways of life. You will also explore the history of Australian archaeological theory and practice, providing critical links with developing contemporary professional best practise approaches.

Please consider the subject pre-requisites before enrolling. This subject includes live sessions with the expectation of student attendance and participation.

Portfolio

Office of the Provost

School

Subject coordinator

Georgia Stannard

Subject type

Postgraduate

Year level

Year Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG

AQF level

Level 8 - Graduate Diploma

Available as elective

Available to study abroad / exchange students

Yes

Capstone subject
Capstones provide students with a way of integrating and applying knowledge and skills gained throughout their course.

Yes

Academic progress review - Schedule A subject

Subject instances

To view instance specific details which include - Assessments, Class requirements and Subject instance coordinators - please select your preferred instance via the drop-down menu at the top right-hand side of this page.

Career ready

Career focused:This subject contains career development learning or professional engagement opportunities

Work based learning (placement):No

Graduate capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing

COMMUNICATION - Cultural Intelligence and Global Perspective

DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Adaptability and Self-Management

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Ethical and Social Responsibility

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Leadership and Teamwork

Subject intended learning outcomes

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the cultural values, awareness and ethical sensitivities towards Indigenous Australians and their archaeological materials across the continent. Appreciate and be sensitive to cross-cultural protocols and language and be able to deal with unfamiliar situations.

Interpret temporal and spatial changes in material culture and environmental settings from different Aboriginal archaeological site types.

Investigate and evaluate different theoretical models within Australian archaeology.

Understand and evaluate best practise models from the scale of individuals through to Communities of Practice.

Learning activities

Interactive lectures with embedded revision exercises;
Discussions, debates and analyses within tutorials;
Posters, personal reflections and the development of analytical writing skills.

Requisite rules

Prerequisites: Students must be admitted in one of the following courses: AM001, AMPA, AG001, AGPA, ACA

Handbook