An Australia first, an Indigenous course that focuses on archaeology and Indigenous community engagement. This course involves spending 5 days at the ANU Kioloa campus learning about Indigenous cultural heritage management and archaeology. The course is convened by Australian Indigenous archaeologist, Dave Johnston and includes critical learning with Uncle Owen Carriage a Yuin / Walbunja Senior Elder and Cultural Mentor, and engagement with other senior South Coast Elders. It involves learning oral histories and developing an understanding of Indigenous perspectives. The course is also designed to build understanding in Indigenous community protocols and educate students in ethical approaches to practicing archaeology in Australia. As part of the course students will need to complete a cultural site assessment that includes archaeological and Indigenous cultural values mapping and demonstrate an ability to consult and communicate with local elders and community.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate an understanding of Indigenous community protocols and the ethical considerations in practicing archaeology in Australia;
- understand complex indigenous perspectives, cultural values and record oral histories;
- complete a cultural site assessment including archaeological and Indigenous cultural values mapping; and
- demonstrate an ability to consult and communicate with Indigenous people on the south coast.
Work Integrated Learning
Fieldwork
This course is an intensive completed entirely on-country with indigenous community elders on the south coast. Students will complete an archaeological site assessment/cultural heritage management plan, cultural values mapping exercises and engage in real-world stakeholder engagement
Other Information
Some of the trip options may require students to safely traverse 2-3km over uneven ground at a moderate pace, and stay in basic cabins and dorms rooms.
Indicative Assessment
- Reflective report (1500 words) (30) [LO 1,2,3]
- Site recording exercise (1500 words) (30) [LO 3,4]
- Small group role playing exercise to external stakeholders (20) [LO 1,4]
- Site development and management plan (1500 words) (20) [LO 1,3,4]
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
130 hrs of total student learning time made up from:
a. 48 hrs fieldwork at Kioloa
b. 82 hrs of independent student research, reading and writing. Entire course will be completed as a three week intensive.
Inherent Requirements
To complete this course, students must participate in a field trip to an overseas and/or isolated location. In order to participate in the trip, students must have the ability to:
- Undertake autonomous travel internationally;
- Monitor and manage their own health within the associated climatic and environmental conditions while studying and living with a small group of people in an international and/or isolated field location; and
- Engage with local people, customs and practices.
Students who cannot meet these requirements will not be able to participate in the trip and therefore cannot complete the course.
For more information, please refer to the CASS trip information page.
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the School of Archaeology and Anthropology to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
The Archaeologists Field Handbook, Claire Smith and Heather Burke
Australian Hidden Histories - YouTube
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you 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). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found 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 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $6360 |
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.
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5425 | 02 Apr 2025 | 02 Apr 2025 | 11 Apr 2025 | 21 Apr 2025 | In Person | View |