PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY
ARC2PAA
Not currently offered
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Our ancestors first appeared on the African landscape between 7 and 6 million years ago, but it was not until two and a half million years ago that one or more of them began to litter the landscape with durable material remains. These early litterbugs unwittingly provided their descendants with a unique if enigmatic record of their activities. Although this record comprises little more than chipped stone tools and broken-up animal bones, it has the potential to yield a wealth of information about the behaviour and ecology of our ancestors. This subject explores how Palaeolithic archaeologists decode the behavioural and evolutionary significance of these remains.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Nicola Stern
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: 15 credit points of archaeology subjects or co-ordinator's approval
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: ARC2PAL
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | The Human Career, | Prescribed | Klein, R.G. | 3RD EDN, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS 2009 |
| Readings | Principles of Human Evolution. | Recommended | Lewin, R. and R. Foley | BLACKWELL SCIENCE, OXFORD. 2ND EDITION. 2004. |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Apply skills and knowledge to assess new discoveries as they announced.
- Activities:
- Workshop discussion
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
02. Demonstrate an ability to evaluate alternative accounts of human evolution using published data.
- Activities:
- Essay, short assignments
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
03. Demonstrate an ability to write an account of human evolution that makes appropriate use of data and interpretive frameworks.
- Activities:
- Essay, short assignments
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
04. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural values, awareness and sensitivities surrounding discussions of human evolution
- Activities:
- Workshop discussions
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Ethical & Cultural Awareness(Ethical & Cultural Awareness)
- Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
05. Show a good understanding of the current literature pertaining to human behavioural evolution.
- Activities:
- Essay, short assignments
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
06. Significant contribution to the discussion of weekly topics and documentaries or display materials.
- Activities:
- Workshop discussions
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Speaking(Speaking)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
07. The essay demonstrates a sound understanding of the substantive and methodological issues involved in writing a history of human behavioural evolution.
- Activities:
- Essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Writing(Writing)