PALAEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY
ARC2PAA
2021
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 they began to litter the landscape with durable material remains. These early innovators 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 yields a wealth of information about the behavioural innovations that are integral to the story of human evolution. This subject explores how Palaeolithic archaeologists decode the behavioural and evolutionary significance of these remains and study the technological, economic, social and artistic innovations that are the hallmarks of our evolutionary story. The subject addresses La Trobe's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Essential. Students will engage with these themes by studying key innovations in human behavioural evolution, from the advent of the world's earliest technology to the key turning points in diet and foraging strategies, social organisation, and creative achievements. .
SchoolHumanities and Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorNicola Stern
Available to Study Abroad/Exchange StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Available as ElectiveYes
Learning Activities Lectures. Tutorial activities; Online questions and quizzes; Essay; Workshop discussions
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 subjectsARC2PAL
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Quota Management StrategyN/A
Quota-conditions or rulesN/A
Special conditionsThis subject is the 2nd year core in the BA Major in Ancient Societies and Human Origins
Minimum credit point requirementN/A
Assumed knowledgeN/A
Readings
The Human Career
Resource TypePrescribed
Resource RequirementN/A
AuthorKlein, R.G.
Year2009
Edition/Volume3RD EDN
PublisherUNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
ISBNN/A
Chapter/article titleN/A
Chapter/issueN/A
URLN/A
Other descriptionN/A
Source locationN/A
Principles of Human Evolution.
Resource TypeRecommended
Resource RequirementN/A
AuthorLewin, R. and R. Foley
Year2004
Edition/Volume2ND EDITION
PublisherBLACKWELL SCIENCE, OXFORD
ISBNN/A
Chapter/article titleN/A
Chapter/issueN/A
URLN/A
Other descriptionN/A
Source locationN/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), 2021, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorNicola Stern
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.00 h 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 h workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Category | Contribution | Hurdle | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ten short assignments (2,000-words equivalent) involving collaborative discussion, management and critique of new ideas | Assignment | Individual | No | 50 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO5 |
One 2,000-word research essay In this essay students are asked to challenge existing understandings of the past, and to draw on new data and/or novel theoretical and methodological perspectives to generate new interpretations of the human past. | Assignment | Individual | No | 50 | SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5 |