Students

AHIS1250 – The Archaeology of Egypt and Near East: Applying Lessons from the Past

2024 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor & Tutor
Dr Alexandra Woods
Contact via Contact via Dialogue tool on iLearn
Arts Precinct, Level 1, Office B114
By appointment. See iLearn for booking times.
Convenor
Professor Malcolm Choat
Arts Precinct, 25WWB, Level 1.
By appointment.
Michael Hitches
Alex Woods
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

For thousands of years human societies have endured and responded to a variety of challenges, including those related to power, inequality, identity, conflict, climate change, sustainability and health. Archaeology presents an opportunity to learn lessons from the past to address such issues facing societies today and in the future. The unit is an introduction to the people, languages, texts, art and material culture of Egypt in its Near Eastern context from its origins to the end of Late Antiquity (c. 10,000 B.C.E. to 1000 C.E.) and aims to better understand how the societies and cultures of this region succeeded or failed when faced with specific challenges in different social, cultural, religious, political, and environmental contexts.

The unit will pay special attention to the analysis, evaluation and interpretation of sources and consider how the archaeological past is valued, owned and contested by both academic and public communities. Drawing on humanistic and scientific methods and theories, the unit will engage with contemporary debates and diverse cultural perspectives to contextualise historical and archaeological knowledge, consider topics of social relevance today and address the importance of conducting responsible archaeology in the 21st Century.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Acquire knowledge and skills relating to the analysis, evaluation and interpretation of the ancient Egyptian material world in its Near Eastern context across time and geographical regions.
  • ULO2: Synthesise primary and secondary sources to develop clear, specific, evidence-based arguments.
  • ULO3: Compare diverse regional cases to link lessons from the past to solutions for the most urgent issues facing societies today.
  • ULO4: Engage with contemporary debates, cultural perspectives and practices to contextualise historical and archaeological knowledge.
  • ULO5: Create content to communicate acquired knowledge & skills to diverse audiences.

General Assessment Information

MARKING RUBRICS

All assessment tasks will be graded using a rubric, which outlines the criteria and standards for each grade descriptor. Rubrics for each task can be found on the unit's iLearn site. 

PENALTIES

1. Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

  • Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    
  • This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

2. Word Limit Penalty

  • Written assessment tasks submitted that are under or over the word length by more than 10% will be penalised with a 10% penalty (of the total possible mark).

3. Citation and Referencing techniques Penalty

  • Turnitin is a 'text-matching' software which is designed to educate students regarding appropriate citation and referencing techniques. Turnitin is also used to provide MQ with confidence in the academic integrity of students work. 
  • All assessment tasks will be marked according to the MQ Academic Integrity Policy and the schedule of penalties.

EXTENSION REQUESTS

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Museum Critical Review 20% No Sunday 7 April 2024 @ 23:55 (Week 7)
Blog 1 35% No Sunday 12 May 2024 @ 23:55 (Week 10)
Blog 2 45% No Sunday 2 June 2024 @ 23:55 (Week 13)

Museum Critical Review

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 19 hours
Due: Sunday 7 April 2024 @ 23:55 (Week 7)
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will virtually or physically visit a museum with an antiquities collection museum and complete a short critical review of an exhibition and/or collection display. Guidelines and word limit available in iLearn.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire knowledge and skills relating to the analysis, evaluation and interpretation of the ancient Egyptian material world in its Near Eastern context across time and geographical regions.
  • Synthesise primary and secondary sources to develop clear, specific, evidence-based arguments.
  • Engage with contemporary debates, cultural perspectives and practices to contextualise historical and archaeological knowledge.
  • Create content to communicate acquired knowledge & skills to diverse audiences.

Blog 1

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 33 hours
Due: Sunday 12 May 2024 @ 23:55 (Week 10)
Weighting: 35%

 

Students will write a short blog on a provided topic and/or case study. Guidelines and word limit available in iLearn.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Synthesise primary and secondary sources to develop clear, specific, evidence-based arguments.
  • Compare diverse regional cases to link lessons from the past to solutions for the most urgent issues facing societies today.
  • Engage with contemporary debates, cultural perspectives and practices to contextualise historical and archaeological knowledge.
  • Create content to communicate acquired knowledge & skills to diverse audiences.

Blog 2

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 42 hours
Due: Sunday 2 June 2024 @ 23:55 (Week 13)
Weighting: 45%

 

Students will write a short blog on a provided topic and/or case study. Guidelines and word limit available in iLearn.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire knowledge and skills relating to the analysis, evaluation and interpretation of the ancient Egyptian material world in its Near Eastern context across time and geographical regions.
  • Synthesise primary and secondary sources to develop clear, specific, evidence-based arguments.
  • Engage with contemporary debates, cultural perspectives and practices to contextualise historical and archaeological knowledge.
  • Create content to communicate acquired knowledge & skills to diverse audiences.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

UNIT DELIVERY

This unit will be structured following a Flipped classroom model, which describes a reversal of traditional teaching where students gain first exposure to new material outside of class, usually via reading or lecture videos, and then class time is used to do the harder work of assimilating that knowledge through strategies such as problem-solving, discussion or debates. The unit will be taught via a blended delivery of content and instruction using a multi-media approach such as video lectures, 3D digital artefacts and visualisations. The learning materials will be a combination of pre-recorded lectures produced by Macquarie University academic staff as well as links to a variety of new media, such as audio recordings/podcasts, blogs, think pieces, and/or social media posts created by local and international scholars. Through such approaches you will develop transferrable skills and analytical capacities that can be applied across various professional and academic settings. 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

iLearn will play a pivotal role throughout the session and will be your central hub for information and instructions. Each week will be structured as follows:

♦  BEFORE DISCUSSION | Building Knowledge, Values & Skills

Step 1 | Preparation 

  • Watch the pre-recorded lecture materials available via iLearn.
    Complete the weekly assigned activities, object analyses and/or readings in preparation for the weekly tutorial discussion (face-to-face or via the online discussion forum).

♦  DURING DISCUSSION | Applying Knowledge, Values & Skills

Step 2 | Engage with your peers 

  • Lead/participate in group discussion and participate in the weekly activities in the class tutorial and/or via the online tutorial discussion forum.

♦  AFTER DISCUSSION | Consolidating and Reflecting on Learning

Step 3 | Consolidate your knowledge

  • At the end of the week, complete any outstanding tasks for the week and work on upcoming assessment tasks.
  • Engage with a series of optional exercises and extension tasks on iLearn such as writing a short reflection on the weekly learning (e.g.readings, lecture content and/or tutorial discussion) in your learning journal or adding an item to the unit Glossary.

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR LEARNING MATERIALS

There are no required textbooks for this unit. All reading materials are provided through Leganto, MQ's reading list management system, and the MQ library.

CONSULTATION TIMES

Each week your convenor and tutor will offer consultation times via Zoom to allow you to ask questions about the weekly content, the assessments or advice on resources etc... Everyone is welcome to attend! The booking procedures are listed on iLearn.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITILES 

The subject matter you will encounter in this unit is designed to challenge your preconcieved notions and understandings of how archaeological knowledge is formed and it is crucial that you are aware of your resonsibilities as a student:

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

The guidelines for how to communicate using online communication tools are called Netiquette (or internet etiquette). Please refer to the complete Netiquette guidelines and always apply the following protocols in your online engagement.

In short, always use equitable and inclusive language; acknowledge everyone's contributions; respect other people's point of view and perspectives; be non-judgemental and supportive; be aware and mindful of cultural differences; and be careful with humour and sarcasm in case the format does not fully convey your intended meaning.

Unit Schedule

MODULE

WEEK

TOPIC

ASSESSMENT

MODULE 1 | 

Archaeology in the 21st century

1

“Archaeology today is personal, political & all about the present.”

 

2

What can the archaeological past teach us?

 

MODULE 2 | 

Representations of the archaeological past

3

The formation of archaeological knowledge

 

4

Colonial mediations & anti-colonial responses

 

5

The political & politicised past

 

MODULE 3 | 

Footprints in the modern world. 

Lessons from the past

6

Archaeologies of Power & Privilege

 

7

NO CLASS / TUTORIAL DISCUSSION

Museum Critical Review due

(Sunday 7 April 2024 @ 23:55)

8

Archaeologies of Inequality

 

MID-SESSION BREAK

9

Archaeologies of Mobility & Migration

 

10

Archaeologies of Ritual & Religion

Blog 1 due

(Sunday 12 May 2024 @ 23:55)  

11

Archaeologies of Climate Change & Sustainability

 

12

Archaeologies of Health, Disability & Care

 

MODULE 4 | 

Archaeology for the future 

13

How is the past linked to a better human future?

Blog 2 due

(Sunday 2 June 2024 @ 23:55)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Accessibility Statement

This unit is intended for all students, including those with mental or physical disabilities, illness, injuries, impairments, or any other condition that tends to negatively affect one’s equal access to education. If, at any point in the session, you find yourself not able to fully access the space, content, and experience of this course, you are welcome (but not required) to contact me. It is never too late to request accommodations -- our bodies and circumstances are diverse and continuously changing. 

For students with accessibility requirements, I encourage you to contact Accessibility Services to ensure that we, as an institution, are supporting your learning. By making a plan through Accessibility Services, you can ensure accommodation without disclosing any information to your course convenors.

There are also a range of resources on campus that serve to support and improve student learning and wellbeing, including the Learning Skills UnitPeer Support programs, resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studentsEnglish Language support, and Student Wellbeing support and resources. Please reach out to these programs or contact me directly for further information. 

Please know I am here to support you as best I can, in this unit and beyond, and your success in this unit is very important to me. I would like to see us all working together, supporting each other and ultimately recognise and acknowledge the (challenging) circumstances we all find ourselves in. 

Acknowledgment of Country

As convenors, we would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Country upon which Macquarie University is situated, the Wallumattagal people of the Dharug nation; the Country upon which we will teach this unit from, the Wangal people of the Eora Nation (Inner West, Sydney), the Cammeraygal people of the Eora Nation (North Sydney) & the Country where each of you are living, learning & working from this session. We recognise Traditional Custodians continuing connection to the Land, waters, & culture, & thank them for protecting this coastline & its ecosystems since time immemorial. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We respect all Elders past & present, & all First Nations peoples who are enrolled in this unit.

The Department of History and Archaeology would like to acknowledge and advise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that the content of AHIS1250 and AHIX1250 may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, film, audio recordings or printed material.


Unit information based on version 2024.01 of the Handbook