UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit is an essential first step in learning how to think like an archaeologist and teaches core practical and conceptual skills. Students learn how archaeologists identify, date, analyse, interpret, and manage artefacts and sites. These skills are taught with reference to exciting case studies from around the world such as 3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Africa, the oldest temple at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and the earliest colonisation of Australia and the Americas. The unit will also provide opportunities to learn about the use of ancient DNA to understand the past and even how war affects the world's cultural heritage. This unit provides students with a global cultural context in which to understand both past human life and contemporary ethics in relation to cultural heritage. It is a unit that is worthwhile and inspiring – and fun!

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 1 core unit in the Archaeology major sequence
• Level 1 elective

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) remember different archaeological research traditions and approaches; (2) understand ethical issues relevant to archaeological practice and heritage management.; (3) analyse the relationship between archaeological research questions, types of archaeological evidence, and the application of appropriate research methods.; (4) remember core archaeological field, laboratory, and analytical techniques.; (5) analyse basic archaeological information and appropriately report on the results both orally and through written expression.; and (6) understand the impact of physical processes and environmental contexts on archaeological evidence and interpretations..

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) quizzes; (2) tutorial assignments; and (3) essay. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Laura Mayer

Unit rules

Incompatibility

ARCY1101 Digging up the Past

Contact hours

3 hours per week

Note

This unit teaches skills and content that are recognised and can be recorded as Group A and/or Group B Skills according to the Australian Archaeology Skills Passport of the Australian Archaeological Association: https://australianarchaeologicalassociation.com.au/careers-resources/the-australian-archaeology-skills-passport/

To deliver the individual and group learning outcomes of this unit, participation in all learning experiences and assessment tasks is essential. Non-participation will result in some, or all vital content being missed, marks not earned, and/or penalties being applied.

The weekly 2-hour lecture involves in-class practical activities that are fun and develop your archaeological skills. Participation is highly desirable. The Lecture Capture System does not fully record these hands-on activities. Students enrolled in this unit have the opportunity to participate in an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip and learn directly from WAM curators about some of the stories behind the exhibition displays of Perth's biggest museum

Texts

There is no compulsory textbook for this unit. All required readings for this unit are available online or via the Reid Library. However, a good reference book is Renfrew, Colin and Paul Bahn 2020. Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice. London: Thames & Hudson.