ATS1247 · Introducing archaeology and ancient history 1

Overview

This unit introduces you to the methods, ideas and ethical practices that shape modern archaeology and ancient history. Archaeologists and ancient historians investigate the material remains, written records and oral traditions of past societies to uncover how people lived, what they valued and how they responded to the challenges of their worlds. Through case studies from Australia, Mesopotamia, ancient Egypt, Greece and the eastern Mediterranean, you will explore how evidence from the past is discovered, analysed and interpreted to reconstruct past human experiences. You will learn how ancient communities interacted with their environments, built social and political systems, and recorded their histories, as well as how these records continue to inform our understanding of humanity today. In tutorials, you will engage directly with real-world examples and develop the skills to think critically about evidence, context and interpretation. The unit prepares you to explore archaeology, ancient history and cultural heritage with curiosity, respect and analytical insight. Along the way, you will experience the excitement of piecing together stories from fragments of the past and gain a deeper appreciation of how archaeology and ancient history connect us to the creativity, resilience and diversity of human communities across time.

Areas of study: Archaeology and ancient history

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. identify and characterise the range of archaeological materials available for the reconstruction of societies in the past;
2. explain the advantages and limitations of the different methods employed in reconstructing the past;
3. identify and describe the different political, social and economic systems of the Mediterranean and Australian societies studied in this unit;
4. apply skills to interpret archaeological and ancient historical records and relate them to the present;
5. analyse artefacts, architecture, and text to critically appraise arguments about communities in the past.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.