arc2sci archaeological science how chemistry, physics, and biology inform the past
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE: HOW CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, AND BIOLOGY INFORM THE PAST
ARC2SCI
2020
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In this subject, students will learn about how scientific techniques (from chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry and informatics) can be applied to answer archaeological questions. In order to understand how these techniques work, students will learn relevant concepts of the physical sciences, and how these techniques often need to be modified due to the unique nature of archaeological materials. A range of commonly applied techniques will be discussed and how they can contribute to archaeological data such as paleoenvironmental reconstruction, scientific dating, materials analysis and bioarchaeology. Students will gain an understanding of how to interpret scientific data (accuracy, precision, sampling and statistics) and how this is used in archaeological interpretation. Students will be encouraged to understand and criticise scientific data used in archaeology and use their improved scientific literacy in the academic and practical realms.
SchoolHumanities and Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorColin Smith
Available to Study Abroad/Exchange StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Available as ElectiveNo
Learning ActivitiesN/A
Capstone subjectNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Students must have completed at least 60 credit points or obtain the subject coordinators permission
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsARC3SCI
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Quota Management StrategyN/A
Quota-conditions or rulesN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Minimum credit point requirementN/A
Assumed knowledgeN/A
Career Ready
Career-focusedNo
Work-based learningNo
Self sourced or Uni sourcedN/A
Entire subject or partial subjectN/A
Total hours/days requiredN/A
Location of WBL activity (region)N/A
WBL addtional requirementsN/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
Graduate Capabilities
Intended Learning Outcomes
Subject options
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Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 1, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorColin Smith
Class requirements
Laboratory ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.00 hour laboratory class per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.00 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
Assessment element | Category | Contribution | Hurdle | % | ILO* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
On-line quizzes (through LMS) supplied regularly through the semester (750 words equivalent) | N/A | N/A | No | 20 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO3 |
Two 750-word workshop assignments | N/A | N/A | No | 40 | SILO1, SILO3 |
One 1500-word essay | N/A | N/A | No | 40 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO4 |