AR1002:03
Archaeology: Methods and Approaches
Townsville, Cairns
HECS Band 1
26 hours lectures, 24 hours practicals. Semester 2.
Staff: Dr M Gibbs (Townsville campus); Assoc. Professor J Campbell (Cairns campus).
This subject builds upon the concepts presented in AR1001 by introducing students to a range of the basic skills required in the planning, execution and reporting of archaeological fieldwork. The subject centres around a core of practical exercises that will develop an understanding of basic fieldwork methods including site location, description and mapping, elementary surveying and stone and ceramic artefact analysis. The subject provides an introduction to some basic concepts and techniques of archaeological research and analysis. Students will be introduced to the construction and writing of effective archaeological reports and critical evaluations of some key concepts.
Learning Objectives:
- acquire skills for elementary archaeological survey methods;
- acquire skills for elementary archaeological laboratory methods;
- develop an awareness of the public role of archaeology;
- develop basic skills in the critical appraisal of information sources;
- acquire basic bibliographic, literature review and effective writing skills.
Assessment by practical work (60%); two-hour end-of-semester examination (40%).