Course coordinator
Professor Andrew Fairbairn
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (25/11/2024 - 08/02/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
ARCA2150 introduces students to the archaeology of ancient states and urban societies through investigation of the region in which they first appeared: southwest Asia (also known as The Near East). Drawing on the archaeological record from Mesopotamia, Anatolia and the Levant (Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Jordan), ARCA2150 asks 'what is civilisation, when did it start and how do we know?' Starting with an introduction to the region's geography, the course explores how we conceptualise and investigate past societies, reviewing the influence, origins and rejection of civilisation theory in archaeology. We then trace how societies changed, a review of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic, in which farming and sedentary societies emerged, gives context to the increasingly complex societies of the Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron Age (c. 4000-300 BCE). Drawing primarily on the archaeological record from architecture, artefacts, human remains, ecofacts and landscapes, we trace the rise, and occasionally the fall, of ancient complex societies, including the first cities and empires. An important part of the course is understanding the continuing importance of the ancient world in the politics and culture of this region globally, and we reflect on the ethics and consequences of its archaeological and museum practices. ARCA2150 consists of a series of lectures presenting the chronological narrative and key themes of southwest Asian archaeological practice, complemented by practical workshops run with the R.D. Milns Antiquities Museum in which key course concepts and classes of artefacts will be investigated using the museum collection.
Course focus: ARCA2150 critically explores some of the key events in the deep time history of human societies in southwest Asia from the end of the last ice age to the conquest of Alexander the Great. The course takes a primarily archaeological approach to this story and explores the development of the first village societies at sites such as Gobekli Tepe and Jericho, to the emergence of the world's oldest known civilisations in Sumer and the rise and fall of empires including the Hittites and Neo Assyrians. ARCA2150 includes uses online classes combined with on campus workshops to build an understanding of the diversity and significance of artefacts, settlement remains and environmental archaeology in understanding the development of societies in the historical regions of Mesopotamia, The Levant and Anatolia, today within the territories of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
Work integrated learning: As well as looking at some key points in that story, the course reflects on how the archaeology of the region has influenced and been influenced by the wider world and also investigates its legacy in the museum sector, including UQ's R.D.Milns Antiquities Museum whose artefacts will be studied in the course. The RD Milns Antiquities Museum, based in the Michie Building at UQ and ARCA2150 has been co-designed and is taught with its expert staff.ﾠThe museum has a collection of artefacts from the Mediterranean region and SW Asia, and is an important cultural institution in Queensland, providing a place in which students can learn museum practice and from which many graduates have entered the professional museum and archaeological community.
Teaching approach: ARCA2150 is intensively taught in summer semester via 6 online classes delivered using UQ's online platform Extend - these classes will be released weekly and can be studied at a flexible time suitable for class students. Online content is complemented by a series of 4 workshops in weeks 1, 3, 6 and 8, in which students explore key concepts through handling artefacts that are essential evidence used to understand past societies. Workshops are designed to encourage questions and engagement with ideas. Workshop 1 introduces the course and the key concepts, the artefact classes we will focus on (ceramics and metals) and building chronologies; Workshops 2 and 3 look at the material culture of the Bronze and and Iron Ages, including evidence of writing, technological change, ceramics, metals and coins. Workshop 4 explores the professional practice and ethics of museum artefact collections, including the due diligence process. Attendance of the workshops is essential for your learning and preparing for the assessment, which include two online quizzes (30% each) and the Due Diligence Report (40%).
Course requirements
Assumed background
ARCA2150 does not have specific pre-requisites but introductory knowledge of archaeology and/or ancient history is helpful.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ARCA1000, ARCS1001
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ARCA2130
Course contact
School enquiries
Student Enquiries School of Social Science
Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland.
Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Andrew Fairbairn
Mr James Donaldson
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Online classes are released at the start of each teaching week and can be accessed at a time suitable for class students, though you should have completed all online modules released before the on-campus workshops. Workshops are delivered in person only at St Lucia campus and attendance is assumed for achieving learning outcomes and assessment preparation.
Aims and outcomes
- To introduce the broad chronology, key archaeological evidence, debates and theories concerning the development of urban and state-based societies in Mesopotamia, The Levant and Turkey (Anatolia);
- To develop an understanding of the wider social, cultural and political significance of this knowledge in contemporary societies and the ethical concerns it raises;
- To develop an understanding of the key classes of evidence used to investigate past social and cultural change in the study region;
- To develop research and written communication skills, including producing professional reports and formal academic text.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the broad archaeological chronology of Mesopotamia, The Levant and Turkey (Anatolia) and how it is constructed
LO2.
Evaluate key theories concerning the emergence of complex societies in the study region, including the concept of civilisation and explain their continuing relevance to contemporary societies
LO3.
Identify and analyse key classes of material culture evidence and demonstrate how they contribute to reconstructing the deep time history of cultural change in the study region
LO4.
Apply international standards to a problem to evaluate the ethics of archaeological and museum collections
LO5.
Apply research and written communication skills to complete professional reports and academic writing
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Ancient Civilisations Quiz A
|
30% |
16/12/2024 2:00 pm |
| Quiz |
Ancient civilisations Quiz B
|
30% |
10/01/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Museum Artefact Due Diligence Report
|
40% |
7/02/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Ancient Civilisations Quiz A
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
16/12/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
- The examination duration will be 90 minutes;
- You will answer 45 questions relating to Workshops 1 and 2 as well as Online Topics A and B of ARCA2150;
- Questions include multiple-choice, multiple answer and short answer questions and require you to address a problem relating to the course content. They can include working with images, artefact categories etc. Questions are drawn from a randomised pool.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics will be available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Use of AI: This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The assessment in this course will be delivered, answered, submitted and marked using the Inspera Assessment platform:
- Inspera can be accessed from the link provided in the Assessment folder in Blackboard.
- Find more information about using Inspera Assessment from the Library website, which provides the latest information for students about using Inspera.
- To see what the interface looks like, please try out the Inspera demonstration test here. This shows you the assessment interface using some test questions. Remember, Inspera is a university wide-platform, so there may be some question types in the demo that are not relevant to your discipline.
- To complete the assessment, you will require access to laptop/desktop computer that meets the device requirements for Inspera assessments. It is important that you check that your laptop meets the device requirements for using the Inspera Assessment platform. If you do not own a suitable laptop, you can borrow one from the Library or book use of a desktop computer in the library.
You must complete the quiz online using Inpsera in the specified time window. All assessments must be submitted via Inspera and no e-mailed, hand written or other submissions of assessments will be accepted. By completing your quiz in Inspera, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own. If you If you are unable to complete the quiz on the specified date and time you will need to apply for an extension.If you have problems on the quiz day that mean your submission fails please contact your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
You can request a deferred assessment if you can provide evidence of unavoidable circumstances that prevented you from sitting your original exam at its scheduled date and time. Your application must include supporting evidence. The request will be assessed based on the evidence you provide when you apply.
An application on the basis of a Student Access Plan (SAP) or Extension Verification Letter (EVL) alone will not be accepted. If you are applying on medical grounds, a medical practitioner must assess your condition and provide a signed medical certificate that covers the day of the examination. You must obtain a medical certificate no later than two business days after the date of the original examination. Further details of acceptable evidence for deferred examination can be found here.
For information on eligibility and application instructions, please view the following page on myUQ: Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Ancient civilisations Quiz B
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
10/01/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
- The examination duration will be 90 minutes;
- You will answer 45 questions relating to the content in Workshop 3 and Online Topics C and D of ARCA2150;
- Questions include multiple-choice, multiple answer and short answer questions and require you to address a problem relating to the course content. They can include working with images, artefact categories etc. Questions are drawn from a randomised pool of questions.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics will be available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Use of AI: This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The assessment in this course will be delivered, answered, submitted and marked using the Inspera Assessment platform:
- Inspera can be accessed from the link provided in the Assessment folder in Blackboard.
- Find more information about using Inspera Assessment from the Library website, which provides the latest information for students about using Inspera.
- To see what the interface looks like, please try out the Inspera demonstration test here. This shows you the assessment interface using some test questions. Remember, Inspera is a university wide-platform, so there may be some question types in the demo that are not relevant to your discipline.
- To complete the assessment, you will require access to laptop/desktop computer that meets the device requirements for Inspera assessments. It is important that you check that your laptop meets the device requirements for using the Inspera Assessment platform. If you do not own a suitable laptop, you can borrow one from the Library or book use of a desktop computer in the library.
You must complete the quiz online using Inpsera in the specified time window. All assessments must be submitted via Inspera and no e-mailed, hand written or other submissions of assessments will be accepted. By completing your quiz in Inspera, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own. If you If you are unable to complete the quiz on the specified date and time you will need to apply for an extension.If you have problems on the quiz day that mean your submission fails please contact your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
You can request a deferred quiz if you can provide evidence of unavoidable circumstances that prevented you from sitting your original exam at its scheduled date and time. Your application must include supporting evidence. The request will be assessed based on the evidence you provide when you apply.
An application on the basis of a Student Access Plan (SAP) or Extension Verification Letter (EVL) alone will not be accepted. If you are applying on medical grounds, a medical practitioner must assess your condition and provide a signed medical certificate that covers the day of the examination. You must obtain a medical certificate no later than two business days after the date of the original examination. Further details of acceptable evidence for deferred examination can be found here.
For information on eligibility and application instructions, please view the following page on myUQ: Deferring an exam - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Museum Artefact Due Diligence Report
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
7/02/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05
Task description
- You will prepare a report evaluating the provenance an artefact held by the R.D. Milns Antiquities Museum;
- The teaching for this will be delivered in person Workshop 4 of ARCA2150, with the ethical context discussed in Online Module F (accessible in week 8) and the relevant archaeological context presented in Workshop 3 and Online Topic E;
- The report will be a maximum of 1200 words, excluding the bibliography/reference list and any figure/table captions, which may be supplemented by up to 5 figures and 2 tables.
- The report will follow a pre-determined format, explained in detail and with a list of Iron Age artefacts from which you can select;
- The report will follow UNESCO procedures for evaluating the source of artefacts for cultural institutions.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics will be available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Use of AI: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
The assessment in this course will be delivered, answered, submitted and marked using the Inspera Assessment platform:
- Inspera can be accessed from the link provided in the Assessment folder in Blackboard.
- Find more information about using Inspera Assessment from the Library website, which provides the latest information for students about using Inspera.
- To see what the interface looks like, please try out the Inspera demonstration test here. This shows you the assessment interface using some test questions. Remember, Inspera is a university wide-platform, so there may be some question types in the demo that are not relevant to your discipline.
- To complete the assessment, you will require access to laptop/desktop computer that meets the device requirements for Inspera assessments. It is important that you check that your laptop meets the device requirements for using the Inspera Assessment platform. If you do not own a suitable laptop, you can borrow one from the Library or book use of a desktop computer in the library.
Submission
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date. All assessments must be submitted via Inspera and no e-mailed, hand written or other submissions of assessments will be accepted. By uploading your assignment via Inspera, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. If you cannot see your submission your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again. If you are unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
UQ Assignment Writing Guide: Steps for writing assignments - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (25 Nov - 01 Dec) |
Information technology session |
Online Topic A: Geographical & historical context This online module introduces the course and region, including the geography, environment and history of Southwest Asia. This is essential grounding for the course and should be completed before attending Workshop 1 in Week 1 of the course. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Workshop |
WORKSHOP 1. Artefacts, chronology & civilisations This week's workshop explores how we use key artefact groups to help establish chronologies in southwest Asian archaeology and look at the pro's and cons of the traditional three-age system as a framework for understanding the history of the region. Includes handling artefacts from the R D Milns Antiquities Museum and an introduction to artefact handling protocols. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Week 2 (02 Dec - 08 Dec) |
Information technology session |
Online Topic B: The emergence of village societies This week we look at the transformation of societies in Southwest Asia from the Epipalaeolithic (20,000 BP) o Early Chalcolithic (6,000-4,000 BC), including the development of the first sedentary farming societies of the Neolithic. The Neolithic sees the foundations of settled life being established, which are the basis of later developments, and in this class we trace the diverse archaeological record of change and evaluate some rival ideas explaining it. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 3 (09 Dec - 15 Dec) |
Workshop |
WORKSHOP 2. Understanding the Bronze Age Using artefacts from the R D Milns Antiquities Museum, we will explore the key changes in economy, society, religion and political organisation seen from c. 3000-1200 BC. Includes discussion on writing, bronze technology and trade through the analysis of metal artefacts, ceramics and cuneiform tablets/inscriptions. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 4 (16 Dec - 22 Dec) |
Information technology session |
Online Topic C: The First Cities and States After 4,000 BC we see the development of cities and the oldest known 'civilisations' in Mesopotamia, the Levant and Anatolia. What is the evidence for this change, how did it unfold and how did societies adjust to the social, economic and political transformations of the period? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Mid Sem break (23 Dec - 29 Dec) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break - no class |
Week 5 (Mid Sem break ends Wed) (30 Dec - 05 Jan) |
Information technology session |
Online Topic D: The Rise & Fall of The Bronze Age This lecture looks at the ebbs and flows of Bronze Age societies from the latter 3rd Millennium, and the 4.2k 'climate event', to the 'Late Bronze Age collapse' of 1200 BC. From the rise of centralised states and empires to the expansion of long distance trade, the Middle and Bronze Age world saw an unprecedented regional florescence of culture and political intrigue before it suddenly ended. In this class we look at that diversity and the evidence for its ending. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 6 (06 Jan - 12 Jan) |
Workshop |
WORKSHOP 3. Understanding the Iron Age Using artefacts from the R D Milns Antiquities Museum, we will explore the key changes in economy, society, religion and political organisation seen from c. 1200-300 BC. Includes discussion on iron technology, coins, globalisation and the archaeology of empire. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (13 Jan - 19 Jan) |
Information technology session |
Online Topic E: Age of Empires In the final class of our historical narrative, we explore the evidence of continuity and change after the 1200 BC end of several regional states. From the rise of petty kingdoms to the emergence of new empires, we investigate how archaeology and the study of text has informed us about the rapid succession of imperial expansions that ultimately led to the Hellenstic conquest of Alexander the Great. Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 8 (20 Jan - 26 Jan) |
Information technology session |
Online Topic F: Archaeology, collecting and geopolitics in Southwest Asia PLEASE COMPLETE THIS MODULE BEFORE YOUR FINAL WORKSHOP IN WEEK 8. This short online module is essential preparation for your final assessment and introduces students to the very close relationship between archaeology and politics in Southwest Asia, including the emergence of the modern states of the region after the end of World War I. It explains why archaeology is contentious and why ownership of artefact collections, such as those in the R D Milns Antiquities Museum, raise many ethical problems for the modern museum and archaeological community. These problems are explored in your final assessment. Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Workshop |
WORKSHOP 4. The practice and ethics of collecting artefacts in 21st Century museums Artefacts are key sources of evidence for archaeology but their recovery, collection and curation are deeply fraught with problems. This week we will consider how museums, the key repositories for artefacts, came to get collections, the ethical problems they face and how they evaluate current and prospective accessions. This workshop will provide the key grounding for your Due Diligence Report. Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L05 |
Additional learning activity information
Online topics are delivered using UQ Extend. They are self-contained units with revision quizzes and multimedia content and can be studied at your own pace. It is assumed in the workshops that the preceding online topic modules have been completed prior to the workshop proceeding.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.