ARCH8407 The Archaeology of Art

2015

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly

1 Admission into GCCHM-Graduate Certificate in Cultural Heritage Management
1a Admission into GDPCHM-Graduate Diploma in Cultural Heritage Management
1b Admission into MCHM-Master of Cultural Heritage Management
1c Admission into GCARCH-Graduate Certificate in Archaeology
1d Admission into GDPARCH-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology
1e Admission into MARCH-Master of Archaeology
1f Admission into GDPAHM-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology and Heritage Management
1g Admission into MAHM-Master of Archaeology and Heritage Management
1h Admission into MAHMA-Master of Archaeology and Heritage Management [1.5 years]
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c or 1d or 1e or 1f or 1g or 1h))

1 of ARCH2209, ARCH3001, ARCH8504 has been successfully completed

The Archaeology of Art examines how archaeologists get information from art. The content of this topic integrates basic data relating to the archaeology of art with important concepts in archaeological theory, method and analysis. The topic also outlines some of the ways in which the archaeological study of art in Australia leads the world. The social, ethical and political dimensions of practicing archaeology are integral to this topic, as is an understanding of the close disciplinary links between the anthropological and archaeological study of art.

This topic aims to:

• provide students with an overview of the major forms of archaeological art and their geographic and chronological distribution

• give students an understanding of the ability of art studies to document changes in human behaviour, technology, economy and ideology

• help students become familiar with the major techniques used in the archaeological study of art

• help students achieve a better ability to decide whether archaeological theories are supported, or undermined, by data

• promote an awareness of the ethical dimensions of studying cultural materials

• help students develop skills that are important at University and in the workplace, such as communication skills and the ability to work in groups

• promote student identification as part of a wider national and international community of rock art and archaeology scholars

On completion of this topic students will be able to:

• identify the major forms of archaeological art and their international distribution

• demonstrate an understanding of the range of rock art dating techniques

• demonstrate an understanding of the methods for determining chronology of rock art traditions

• undertake ethical and culturally appropriate rock art research with communities around the world, particularly, Indigenous communities

• undertake a wide variety of rock art recording techniques

• identify as part of a wider national and international community of rock art scholars

• locate, record and write about rock art using appropriate techniques