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Unit of study_

ARCO3401: Australian Lithic Technology (Project 1)

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Production of stone artefacts, lithic technology, is the oldest technology and key to cultural evolution. The unit introduces the technology, and methods and theories for its archaeological interpretation. Understandings are developed through a student project involving laboratory experimentation.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ARCO3401
Academic unit Archaeology
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Archaeology
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Trudy Doelman, trudy.doelman@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small test In class test
n/a
20% - 250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Participation Lab notebook
n/a
20% - 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Project
n/a
60% - 3250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO1 LO2

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Introduction, course outline, assessment requirements 2. Why study stone artefacts? What can the analysis of stone artefacts tell us about the past? Seminar (2 hr) LO1
Tutorial 1: Classification- definitions of core, flake and tools Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 02 3. Identifying raw material types 4. Mechanics of flaking stone Seminar (2 hr) LO1
Tutorial 2. Flaking methods & knapping exercise Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 5. African origins of stone tools 6. Core attributes Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Tutorial 3. Core attributes Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 04 7. Neanderthals and their tools 8. Flake attributes Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Tutorial 4. Flake attributes Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 05 9. Modern humans and their tools 10. Tool attributes Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Tutorial 5. Tool attributes Tutorial (1 hr) LO1
Week 06 11. Diversity of stone making technology across the world 12. Revision of core, flake and tool attributes Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Tutorial 6. Revision of core, flake and tool attributes Refitting exercise Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 13/14. Laboratory Quiz (30% assessment) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Tutorial 7. Quiz outcomes: raw materials, core, flake and tool attributes Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 16. Experimental archaeology 17. Ethnographic archaeology Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial 8. Ethnographic examples of knapping & experimental archaeology Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 18. Ways of studying assemblages – reduction sequence, technological organisation and chaine operatoire 19. Organising data and presentation Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial 9. Organising lithic data and presentation Tutorial (1 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 10 19. Assemblage analysis exercise 20. Recording, collecting and analysis of an assemblage Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
21/22. Australian Pleistocene stone technology Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO5
23/24. Late Holocene Australian stone technology Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
25. Course conclusion 26. Assignment work/course evaluation Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial 10. Assignment overview Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Tutorial 11. Hands-on exercise/assignment work Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Tutorial 11. Hands-on exercise/assignment work Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 12 Tutorial 12. Hands-on exercise/assignment work Tutorial (1 hr)  
Week 13 Tutorial 13. Hands-on exercise/assignment work Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

  • Recommended reading: Holdaway, S. & N. Stern, 2004. A Record in Stone: The Study of Australia's Flaked Stone Artefacts. Aboriginal Studies Press.
  • Recommended reading: Andrefsky, W. 2005 Lithics. Macroscopic approaches to analysis. Cambridge University Press. Second Edition.
  • Recommended reading: Kooyman, B.P.  2000 Understanding stone tools and archaeological sites. Calgary, University of Calgary Press.
  • Recommended reading: Drennan, R. D.  2009 Statistic for Archaeologists. A common sense approach. Springer: New York.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. independently identify lithic artefacts with accuracy, and be able to classify them into standard analytical categories
  • LO2. interpret the sequence of production events of lithic artefacts
  • LO3. design and interpret lithic artefacts to explore current research questions
  • LO4. carry out an assemblage analysis to investigate an archaeological question, demonstrating the construction of an appropriate theoretical and methodological framework
  • LO5. demonstrate skills necessary to undertake basic lithic analyses as a professional archaeologist through completion of a research project.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

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