ARCH2005 The Archaeology of the Pacific Islanders
Later Year Course
| Offered By | School of Archaeology & Anthropology |
|---|---|
| Academic Career | Undergraduate |
| Course Subject | Archaeology |
| Offered in | First Semester, 2010 |
| Unit Value | 6 units |
| Course Description |
An introduction to the archaeology of the Pacific Islands, spanning Melanesia (including the Island of New Guinea), Micronesia and Polynesia. The course examines the amazing human endeavour which was the location and settlement of some of the most remote islands on earth, and the subsequent cultural and environmental changes through to the period of early contact with European explorers, missionaries and traders. The region's past includes the earliest evidence for open sea voyaging in the world, unique hunting and gathering adaptations to tropical rainforest environments, the mass extinction of species of birds and other vertebrates with initial human settlement on many islands, the development of over a quarter of the world's modern languages, and the construction of the mysterious Easter Island statues. |
| Learning Outcomes | Students will acquire knowledge of the archaeological evidence for the ancient settlement of the Pacific Islands, and the subsequent cultural changes that occurred within each major archipelago. They will also acquire analytical skills in relation to the interpretation of archaeological evidence and an understanding of the history of research into Pacific archaeology. |
| Indicative Assessment |
Tutorial attendance (10%), lecture notes appraisal (10%), two 2500 word essays (40% each). |
| Areas of Interest | Archaeology |
| Requisite Statement |
One First Year course to the value of 6 units in Arts or Asian Studies, or permission of the lecturer. |
| Incompatibility |
PREH2005 Archaeology of the Pacific Islanders. |
| Prescribed Texts |
Kirch, P. On the Road of the Winds: an Archaeological History of the Pacific Islands before European Contact, University of California Press, 2002 |
| Preliminary Reading |
Spriggs, M. The Island Melanesians, Blackwell, 1997. |
| Majors/Specialisations | Pacific Studies and Archaeology |
| Academic Contact | Professor Matthew Spriggs |
The information published on the Study at ANU 2010 website applies to the 2010 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2009 website.
