Students
AHIS710 – Principles of Archaeological Theory
2018 – S2 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor, Lecturer and Tutor
A/Prof. Ronika Power
Contact via ronika.power@mq.edu.au
Australian Hearing Hub, South Wing, Level 2
By appointment only
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Knowledge of the theoretical context and content of research design, excavation methodology and interpretation of evidence is considered a fundamental basis for practitioners of the modern discipline of archaeology. This unit aims to provide students with a range of analytical, interpretative and professional skills by introducing theoretical approaches to the spectrum of archaeological praxes. Taking as its basis the history of archaeological thought, the unit will expand to address recent discussions and approaches in particular sub-fields, including the theoretical implications of morals, ethics and the exponential growth of scientific technologies. Taking as its mandate inclusivity and diversity, the unit will draw on case studies across cultural and temporal frames. Through independent research, students will be encouraged to explore areas of particular interest to discover the fundamental role that archaeological theory has played – and continues to play – in shaping the interpretations, identities and politics of the past, present and future.
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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:
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
General Assessment Information
Unit Requirements and Expectations
Students must achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete this unit satisfactorily.
Assignment submission
All written work must be submitted through the iLearn website. Please upload your assignment to the drop-box for the relevant week. Save your assignment as a pdf or a doc file (a pdf is best; please do not use docx).
All assignments must include the following at the start: Student name; Student Number; Assessment Task Title or Question. Any assignment submitted without these will not be marked.
All written assignments will be returned via the ‘turnitin’ tool on the iLearn Unit site, and will contain feedback from the marker within them.
Extensions and Special Considerations
If you anticipate any difficulty in attending class for a scheduled test it is important that you contact us as early as possible. Please avoid asking for extensions as missing deadlines complicates the work of markers and puts you behind. If you have to ask for an extension or the opportunity to reschedule the date of a test please request it before the deadline, and only request the extension if you face serious crises that can be documented in some way (e.g. with a medical certificate). ‘Getting behind with your work’ or 'I ran out of time’ are not excuses. If you miss a class test due to illness or a serious crisis that can be documented, you can re-schedule and sit the test at a later time. Please see us as soon as possible to organise a time and place to sit a supplementary test.
Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html
Applying for Special Consideration Students applying for Special Consideration circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, and/or prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation.
The online Special Consideration application is found at: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/
Extensions can only be granted in exceptional cases and may only be sought in consultation with the unit convenor and with support of documentary evidence. If you anticipate any difficulty in meeting assigned due dates then it is important that you contact the course convenor as early as possible.
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. After seven days, a mark of 0% will be assigned.
Written assessment tasks submitted that are under or over the word length by more than 10% will be penalised with a 10% deduction. The marker will only read the listed word limit, i.e. if the word limit is 2,000 words they will stop reading at 2,000 words (plus or minus up to 200 words).
Written assessment tasks submitted without proper referencing, i.e. little or no page numbers or no bibliography will receive an automatic fail.
Marking Rubric
The assignments will be graded using a rubric, which will be found on the iLearn unit site.
Final Marks
Results shown in iLearn, 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 ask.mq.edu.au.
Please note with respect to the marks you receive for work during the session: that the marks given are indicative only; final marks will be determined after moderation. See further the note on Results in the Policies and Procedures section below:
https://students.mq.edu.au/study/exams-and-results/exam-results
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Proposal | 20% | No | Week 5 |
| Literature Review | 40% | No | Week 8 |
| Theoretical Discussion | 40% | No | Week 13 |
Research Proposal
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 20%
Students are to submit an annotated bibliography of modern works on their chosen area of research together with a research plan (of no more than 300 words) outlining the proposed research project. The annotations and research plan should not be more than 1500–2000 words overall.
For the annotated bibliography students should provide a few sentences describing and/or analyzing the contents of each bibliographical item. It is recommended that students aim to find ca. 15-20 bibliographical items. (Please note that the citation of the bibliographical item itself is not included in the word count.)
The choice of items for your bibliography and the nature of your research plan should be discussed with the Convenor.
This assessment must be submitted via Turnitin on the iLearn website by 5pm on Friday of Week 5 (31st August).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
Literature Review
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 40%
Produce a ~3000 words report, plus any relevant figures and tables, focusing on the main theoretical principles, researchers, and previous publications related to your research topic.
This assessment must be submitted via Turnitin on the iLearn website by 5pm on Friday of Week 8 (5th October).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Theoretical Discussion
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%
Write a ~3000 words report, plus any relevant figures and tables, applying the main theoretical principles discussed in your Literature Review to your research topic.
This assessment must be submitted via Turnitin on the iLearn website by 5pm on Friday of Week 13 (9th November).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Delivery and Resources
Delivery
Seminar Thursday 1-4pm 4 Western Road (W5C) 311 Tutorial Room. Attendance schedule will be posted on iLearn at the start of Session 2.
Online units can be accessed at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au
PC and Internet access are required for those who wish to access iLearn. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
Please consult the Convenor for any further, more specific requirements.
Resources
Textbook:
Harris, O.J.T. & C. Cipolla (2017) Archaeological Theory in the New Millennium. Routledge, New York.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results shown in iLearn, 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 ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Literature Review
- Theoretical Discussion
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Literature Review
- Theoretical Discussion
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Literature Review
- Theoretical Discussion
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Literature Review
- Theoretical Discussion
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Identify, critically evaluate and interpret various sources of evidence used by archaeologists, and their degree of reliability both in the field and in artefact-based studies.
- Explain the principles and processes by which archaeological primary data are attained, analysed, interpreted and presented.
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Apply appropriate theoretical and scientific concepts and methods to archaeological questions and problems.
- Critique modern archaeological scholarship on the basis of theoretical principles.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Assessment tasks
- Research Proposal
- Literature Review
- Theoretical Discussion
PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the temporal, ethical, cultural and legal frameworks for archaeological research and professional practice.
- Produce synthetic, theoretically-informed discussions of archaeology based on critical understanding and analysis of ancient and modern sources.
Assessment task
- Theoretical Discussion