Australian Archaeology

Australia has a unique and important human history. During a 50,000 year period geographically varied cultural systems formed across the continent, adjusting in response to social and environmental circumstances. First Australian's faced an Ice Age that lasted ten millennia and flooding events in which present-day Australia and Papua New Guinea separated from a vast super continent. Our Nations history is also unique because it draws upon the practice of archaeology and history, also the expertise of First Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Each method of ‘history building’ produces, narrates and disseminates knowledge that intersects and diverges in ways that are both nuanced and complex. In this course you will learn about the long and continuing history of people on this continent while also being introduced to unique skill sets required should you wish to seek archaeology employment in Australia. In addition we will engage with different ways of understanding Australia’s story, resurrecting 'histories' from the various disciplines and knowledge systems.