PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY

ARC2PAA

2020

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: Humanities and Social Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Keir Strickland

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: Students must have completed at least 60 credit points or obtain the subject coordinators permission

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: ARC2PAL

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

The Human Career

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: Klein, R.G.

Year: 2009

Edition/Volume: 3RD EDN

Publisher: UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Principles of Human Evolution.

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Lewin, R. and R. Foley

Year: 2004

Edition/Volume: 2ND EDITION

Publisher: BLACKWELL SCIENCE, OXFORD

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

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

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Understand the contribution that archaeology makes to the story of human evolution
02. Evaluate alternative accounts of human evolution using appropriate material evidence
03. Identify the scientific methods and deep-seated beliefs that influence understanding of key events in human evolution
04. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural values, awareness and sensitivities surrounding discussions of human evolution
05. Evaluate the import of all humanity sharing a deep-time history

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Nicola Stern

Class requirements

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.00 hour lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

WorkShopWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.00 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Ten short assignments (2,000-words equivalent)

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO5

One 2,000-word research essay

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5