arc2ant ancient technologies
ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES
ARC2ANT
2015
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Stone tools and the debris from their manufacture make up the bulk of the Australian archaeological record and their analysis and interpretation touches on almost every aspect of archaeological theory and practice. A broad range of problems is investigated through the study of stone artefacts: questions about the social and economic strategies of past societies and about the patterns of interaction between them. Implementing these approaches is a daunting task without some practical knowledge about how to identify, describe and analyse stone artefacts and one of the aims of this subject is to show how this is done
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorNicola Stern
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites 15 credit points of Archaeology subjects or Coordinator's approval
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects ARC3ANT
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | A Record in Stone: The Study of Australia's Flaked Stone Artefacts. | Prescribed | Holdaway, S.J. & Stern, N. | ABORIGINAL STUDIES PRESS, CANBERRA AND MUSEUM VICTORIA, MELBOURNE. 2004 |
| Readings | Lithics: Macroscopic Approaches to Analysis. | Recommended | Andrefsky, W. | CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, NEW YORK. SECOND EDITION. 2005 |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Apply skills and knowledge in inquiry/research, critical thinking and creative problem solving to new interpretive frameworks as they are developed
- Activities:
- Foundations for achieving this goal are embedded in laboratory exercises, assignments and the final essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
02. Appraise different analytical and interpretive approaches and their application to specific data
- Activities:
- Research and write an essay that includes critical evaluation of the analytical and interpretive approaches applied to a specific context
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
03. Contribute to class discussions evaluating different approaches to the interpretation and analysis of artefacts
- Activities:
- Participation in the weekly discussions held during the laboratory sessions linking the attributes being identified on the artefacts to the information they can generate about past technology
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Speaking(Speaking)
04. Evaluate different interpretations of change in the stone artefact record by investigating the theoretical and methodological approaches employed and the data presented in support of those interpretations
- Activities:
- Short assignment involving the analysis of a knapped assemblages and a medium length essay requiring the evaluation of current interpretations of change in the Australian stone artefact record
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Writing(Writing)
05. Identify differences between different approaches to the study of Australian stone artefacts
- Activities:
- Research and write an essay in which specific archaeological evidence is used to support the argument presented
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
06. Identify the substantive differences between different approaches to the analysis and interpretation of artefact assemblages
- Activities:
- Research and write an essay that includes critical evaluation of different analytical and interpretive approaches
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
07. Work as a member of a team to acquire archaeological information
- Activities:
- During workshops discuss in groups the features of an artefact that led you to identify it
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Teamwork(Teamwork)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2015, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorNicola Stern
Class requirements
Laboratory ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours laboratory class per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (1,800-word equivalent) | 40 | 03, 05 | |
| Knapping assignment (200-word equivalent) | 10 | 04, 05, 06 | |
| Laboratory exercises (1,800-word equivalent) | 40 | 03, 05 | |
| Practical exam (200-word equivalent) | 10 | 03, 04, 05, 06 |