Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
Why do people believe aliens built the pyramids, or that Atlantis was real? Critical thinking skills are essential in an AI-influenced era of misinformation and contested facts. This provocative and engaging unit uses archaeology to investigate some of the world's most persistent historical myths, pseudo-archaeological claims and outright hoaxes. From the infamous Piltdown Man forgery to sunken continents, flawed explanations for monumental sites like Great Zimbabwe and Stonehenge, and pop culture adventurers like Indiana Jones, students will explore how flawed logic, nationalism, racism, and media have shaped public understandings of the past. Weekly case studies—including the Batavia 1629 shipwreck, rock art, Egyptian pyramids and Viking voyages—offer both a global and Australian critical perspective. Students will develop essential skills in critical thinking, source evaluation, and debate, while considering the ethical implications of how the past is used (and misused). Along the way, they'll encounter some of the most extraordinary and entertaining stories archaeology has to offer—and learn how to separate fact from fiction.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode First year of offer Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) On-campus - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) critically assess pseudo-archaeological claims using archaeological and historical evidence; (2) evaluate sources for credibility, bias, and relevance in contested historical debates
; (3) identify how ideology, nationalism, racism, and media shape interpretations of the past
; (4) construct and defend evidence-based arguments through written, oral, and digital formats; and (5) reflect on the ethical dimensions of interpreting and misrepresenting the past.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) written work; (2) class participation; and (3) source analysis. 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)
- Professor Alistair Paterson
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of24 points Unit(s) in your chosen degree
- Advisable prior study
- A background in Social Sciences, Humanities,
or Science
- Contact hours
- One hour lecture and 2 hours workshop per week
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.