ANT3000 Archaeology of Indigenous Australia

ANT	3000	75353	1, 2008	EXT	Archaeology of Indigenous Australia	1.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOART
Academic org:	FOA003
Student contribution band:	1
ASCED code:	090303

Staffing
Requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Texts
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Bryce Barker
Moderator: Lara Lamb

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: (ANT1000 and ANT1001) or ANT2000

RATIONALE

General knowledge about the Pre-European past of the Australian continent is often ill-conceived or based on socio-cultural evolutionary stereotypes. This course introduces students to the complexity and diversity of the Pre-European past, placing Aboriginal cultural adaptations among the most successful in human history. Fundamental to an understanding of Aboriginal culture is an awareness of its past. From an understanding of the human past through archaeology, students are in a position to assess the extraordinary achievements of Pre-European hunter-gatherers on the Australian continent.

SYNOPSIS

This course will address the major issues and examine the archaeological evidence relating to Australian "prehistoric" archaeology, including initial colonisation of the continent, environmental history, the pattern of Pleistocene adaptations and late Holocene Change. The course will also address theoretical approaches as case studies and deal with the problems associated with the practice of archaeology as it relates to "living cultures". It is felt that this course will provide an essential background for those interested in pursuing an archaeology career as a sub-discipline within anthropology or for those with a general interest in Australia's human past.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1.: demonstrate an understanding of current scientific knowledge as it related to the Pre-European past in Australia;
2.: demonstrate a knowledge of basic archaeological theory and its practical application;
3.: understand the relevance of archaeological knowledge to contemporary Australian society.

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Who Owns the Past - Differing World Views and The Archaeology of Living Cultures	10.00
2.	Theoretical Frameworks in Australian Pre-European Archaeology	10.00
3.	Australian Hunter-Gatherers - General Perspectives	5.00
4.	Pleistocene Occupation Colonisation Models	10.00
5.	Who were the first Australians?	5.00
6.	Life in Pleistocene Australia	5.00
7.	Tasmania isolated	5.00
8.	The Human Impact on the Environment: Fire and Megafaunal Extinctions	5.00
9.	The Holocene: Coastal Economies	10.00
10.	The Holocene: Inland and Arid Zone Economies	10.00
11.	The Holocene: Population Growth, Social Identity and Interaction	5.00
12.	Australian Lithic Technologies	10.00
13.	Interpretations of Australian Prehistory	10.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Hiscock, P 2007, Archaeology of Ancient Ausrtalia, Routledge, London.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Relevant Journals

Archaeology in Oceania,
(available at USQ library)

Australian Rock Art Research,

Australian Archaeology,
(available at USQ library)

Queensland Archaeological Research,
(available at USQ library)

Australian Aboriginal Studies,
(Available at USQ Library)

World Archaeology,
(available at USQ library)

Antiquity,
(available at USQ library)

Dodson, J (ed) 1992, The Naive Lands: prehistory and environmental change in Australia and the South-west Pacific, Longman Cheshire, Melbourne.

Edwards, E H (ed) 1998, Traditional Aboriginal society: a reader, 2nd edn, MacMillan, Melbourne.

Flood, J 1999, Archaeology of the Dreamtime: the story of prehistoric Australia and its people, Harper Collins, Pymble, NSW.
(Rev Ed)

Murray, T 1998, Archaeology of Aboriginal Australia: a reader, Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, NSW.

White, P & O'Connell, J 1982, A Prehistory of Australia, New Guinea and Sahul, Academic Press, Sydney.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Directed Study	160.00
Examinations	2.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1	100.00	15.00	28 Mar 2008	(see note 1)
ASSIGNMENT 2	100.00	15.00	09 May 2008	(see note 2)
MAJOR ESSAY (2500-3000 WORDS)	100.00	40.00	06 Jun 2008	(see note 3)
EXAMINATION - 2HR SHORT ESSAY	100.00	30.00	END S1	(see note 4)

NOTES

1.: Assignment 1: Review Critique (1000 words). This assessment is aligned with Objectives 1 and 2.
2.: Assignment 2: Review Critique (1000 words). This assessment is aligned with Objectives 1 and 2.
3.: This assessment is linked with Objectives 1, 2 and 3.
4.: Further details about the due dates are outlined in the assessment section of the Course Specifications.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this external course. However, it is the student's responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances and without prior approval, then a penalty of a maximum of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late, up to a maximum of 10 working days, at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
The exam for this course is a CLOSED examination, and candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

(a) The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner. (b) Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be despatched to USQ within 24 hours if requested by the Examiner. (c) In accordance with University's Assignment Extension Policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner of a course may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances such as documented ill-health. (d) In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the examiner's convenience. (e) Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements. (f) Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in the course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of the course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete-Makeup). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study. (g) Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or sit for an examination at the scheduled time, may apply to defer an assessment in the course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded: IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).

This version produced 28 Aug 2009.