Most of the past is outside of history, either occurring before people began writing things down or happening in the nooks and crannies of culture that are rarely written about. To understand this past we must turn to its material culture—the remains of everyday life preserved in the archaeological and natural record. In this course we will discuss what we've learned about the human past in eastern Asia and in the Pacific and how we have learned it, with emphasis on key developments such as the first arrival of people in uninhabited lands, the development of agriculture and the resilience of foraging, the development of complex ranked societies, and the interactions of people with local environments. The student will gain an understanding of past cultures in Asia and the Pacific and be prepared for advanced study of the ancient past using archaeological and palaeoenvironmental approaches.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
On successful completion of this course, student will be able to:1) Describe how archaeologists have approached the early history of Asia and the Pacific.
2) Critically use concepts and tools from the discipline of archaeology to develop, review, analyse and synthesise knowledge about Asia and the Pacific.
3) Demonstrate an understanding of the prehistoric origins of the Asia-Pacific.
4) Communicate arguments and findings effectively, both orally and in writing.
Indicative Assessment
Short map quiz on the bio-geographic and cultural-political divisions of the Asia-Pacific (10%), [LO 1, 2].In-class Assessment 1: Migration. Short presentation by each student of 10-15 minutes and leading of class discussion (30%), [LO 1, 2, 3, 4].Critically review the evidence (archaeological/historical/environmental) for a major human expansion in the Asia-Pacific that we have discussed in class (e.g. migrations by archaic humans, early farmers, Austronesians, Lapita culture, Polynesia).
In-class Assessment 2: States and Empires. Short Group presentation (2-3 students) of 10-15 minutes and class discussion (30%), [LO 1, 2, 3, 4]. Identify and outline the critical factors that led to the development of complex societies in the Asia-Pacific that we have discussed in class (e.g. Qin Empire, Khmer Empire, Mongol Empire, Tongan Empire
Long essay (2000 words) (30%) [LO 1, 2, 3, 4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Student workload is estimated at 10 hr/week, 130 hours in total over the semester including independent study and in-class time.Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Specific readings will be assigned for each class based on the lecture topic. The general text is: 2016. Archaeology: Theories Methods and Practice. 7th Ed. Thames and Hudson, London.Assumed Knowledge
Student are encourage to have enrolled in ASIA1025 Asia and the Pacific: Power, Diversity and Change, and ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion.Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $2856 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $4080 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9840 | 24 Jul 2017 | 31 Jul 2017 | 31 Aug 2017 | 27 Oct 2017 | In Person | N/A |
