UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit is both practical and thematic. In the practical component students are trained to use traditional methods to make an artefact selected from a past human culture. Hands-on tutorials teach students about the properties of stone, wood, clay, fibre and other materials that people have used to make artefacts. These artefacts show how people met challenges such as climate change and social unrest by using innovation to shape the world around them. In the thematic component we look at how archaeologists go about their work, examining 'big issues' such as identity and DNA, gender, cross-cultural contact, climate change, human use of symbols, technology and contemporary issues such as homelessness, graffiti and how war affects the world's cultural heritage treasures. We train students in global cultural awareness and appropriate ethical conduct when engaging in cross-cultural research.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	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) understand how archaeologists conduct their research with an emphasis on practical skills such as making stone tools, working with wood, clay, and other methods of making artefacts.; (2) evaluate how the main recording, dating and analysis techniques are used in archaeological investigations.; (3) understand the archaeological research process with an emphasis on appropriate legal, occupational health and safety, and ethical compliances.; (4) apply their acquired knowledge in writing within scientific conventions and demonstrate critical reading skills and source criticism.; (5) understand how traditional artefacts were made based on relevant archaeological information and literature.; and (6) apply knowledge about ancient artefact tool manufacture in a practical and experimental way and communicate this appropriately in written form..

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) archaeology worksheets and (2) archaeology design project. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the archaeology design project component.

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Professor Alistair Paterson

Unit rules

Incompatibility

ARCY1102 Archaeology of Tribes and Empires

Incidental fees

Incidental student fees and charges are costs incurred by students as part of their studies at UWA that are in addition to their tuition fees (further information is available "
Participation in this unit will incur the following incidental fee(s):
Field Trips within or outside the metro area, travel and food only. (estimated cost - $20).

Contact hours

3 hours per week - 1 x 1 hour Lecture + 1 x 2 Hour Tutorial/Practical

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.

Note that the weekly seminars include hands-on, practical activities that are not captured by the Echo360 lecture capture system.