This course provides an introduction to the archaeological and biological data which reflect upon cultural history and human variation. "From Origins to Civilisations" sets up a broad framework upon which later Archaeology and Biological Anthropology courses across the University can be placed. In particular, combined with Introduction to Archaeology, it provides the necessary basis for students to continue on to a wide variety of later year units.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand the broad trajectory of human evolution;
2. critically evaluate archaeological journal articles; and
3. understand the rise of complex societies and recognise similarities and differences between them.

Field Trips

None

Additional Course Costs

None

Required Resources

Text book

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction – Evolution/The Biological Evolution of Humanity: from origins to early Homo
2	The Biological Evolution of Humanity: The Erectine Phase and the Neanderthals/The Biological Evolution of Humanity: The origin of Homo sapiens
3	Ancient Human Behaviour/The settlements of Australasia and the Americas by Homo sapiens.
4	The Origins of Agriculture /The rise of agricultural societies and the increasing voices from genetics and linguistics.
5	Predynastic Egypt: the origin of the world’s first nation state./Archaic and Old Kingdom Egypt.
6	The Indus civilization and its successors/Ancient Greece
7	The Origins of Chinese civilization./Bronze Age Europe
8	Mesoamerican Civilisations/Origins and migrations of the Indo-European speaking peoples
9	Inca Empire/Iron Age Europe
10	Peopling the Pacific/Indianization of SE Asia
11	Chiefdoms and Monumentality in Pacific/Rise of Rome
12	The Collapse of Civilisations

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Presentation	9 %	1,3
Critical Reading	5 %	2
Research Essay / Creative Output	40 %	1,2,3
Exam	40 %	1,3
Presentation summary	6 %	<span class="ql-cursor"></span>1,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Presentation

Students are expected to prepare a presentation on a topic of your choice from those provided. The presentation is linked to learning outcomes 1 and 3. A presentation marking rubric can be found on the Wattle site.

You will have 15 minutes for the presentation and hopefully some time at the end - 2 or 3 minutes for questions that should be built in to the presentation at the end (please do not exceed 25 minutes total time, including discussion as we have two presentations per tutorial). Presenters can use Powerpoint, overheads, or photocopied handouts. Presentations should include an outline, introduction to the topic, the civilization’s (or appropriate) location, its excavation history and its archaeological significance. Presentations must also end with three discussion questions. These are individual presentations and will be presented during a Tutorial session. 

You may present your topic in any way you wish, traditional Powerpoint, puppets, act out a scene etc. so get creative!

The presentations will be assessed based on the following criteria (see rubric on Wattle):

• Relevance and quality of the information provided
• Clarity of oral presentation – including timekeeping

Quality of discussion questions and their relevance to the material being presented

Addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 3.

9%

Assessment Task 2

Critical Reading

Before tutorials students must complete a weekly reading (from the learning resources or your own research) and fill in the Critical Reading sheet. As we sometimes discuss these papers in tutorials its important that you do the reading before the tutorial. 

Each student is expected to choose and read one article suggested for each tutorial* from the list on Wattle (under Tutorial Readings) or in weeks when there is an assigned paper you may use that. There are usually several to choose from, being either journal articles or book chapters. 

For 8 tutorials you should complete a Critical Reading Sheet and upload it to Wattle after the tutorial.

*The week in which you are doing a presentation you are not required to hand in a tutorial reading sheet for that week.

These should be submitted via the links on this Wattle page at end of Tutorials to the appropriate link.

Addresses Learning Outcome 2

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay / Creative Output

Students will compose a Research Essay on a topic of your choice from those provided on the Wattle site.

The essays will be assessed on the following criteria:

· Appropriate introduction (explain what you will do in the essay)

· Accuracy in describing issues and facts

· Range/comprehensiveness of material covered (cite academic journal papers as widely as possible in text)

· Depth of understanding

· Originality

· Relevance of material

· Use of examples

· Critical approach to sources

· Use of bibliography (Harvard format- no footnotes) For more info on Harvard system see the section on Referencing for Essay on this Wattle page.

· Use of illustrations (optional)

· Structure and presentation

Be sure to reference as outlined below.

Addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

40%

Assessment Task 4

Exam

An exam will be scheduled during the exam period at the end of the semester. The exam is in person. For students with an EAP alternate exams will be formulated.

Addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 3.

40%

Assessment Task 5

Presentation summary

Student will provide a summary of the presentation in written form.

Addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 3.

6%

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students