AR3521 - Archaeology of the Ancient Maya: a Tropical Rainforest Civilization

[Offered in even-numbered years]

Credit points:	03
Year:	2012
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Arts & Social Sciences

Who are the Maya? Where did the Maya come from? And what happened at the end of the first millennium AD that led to Maya people abandoning their major cities? This subject introduces you to the great Maya civilisation of Mesoamerica from its origins before 2000 BC through its Classic florescence in the early centuries AD to its "collapse" after AD 800 and beyond. The focus is on reviewing and evaluating archaeological evidence from major sites within a chronological framework.

Learning Outcomes

• demonstrate a working knowledge of the outline of Maya and other Mesoamerican cultures from their ancient origins to contemporary lives;
• demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate theories and models of key issues in Maya and Mesoamerican archaeology;
• refine your skills in the self-directed acquisition and critical analysis of information relevant to a defined problem;
• demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a small group, undertake independent research and share the results of that research with peers;
• enhance your capacity to articulate your results clearly, concisely and on time, in oral and written forms of the sorts required in the workplace and in higher degree research.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion;
• The ability to work individually and independently.

Assumed Knowledge:	To undertake this subject students must have successfully completed 12 credit points of level 1 study at tertiary level.
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	AR2402 AR2521 AR3402

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 9
Census Date 04-Oct-2012
Coord/Lect:	Dr Sean Ulm.
Contact hours:	24 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); presentations (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 9
Census Date 04-Oct-2012
Coord/Lect:	Dr Sean Ulm.
Contact hours:	24 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); presentations (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.