This course will serve as an introduction to the prehistory of Europe from the first farming communities to the Roman era from the Balkans to Britain, and Norway to the Iberian Peninsula. From 8000 BC to the 1st century AD people on the European continent developed new technologies, adopted unique ways of life and built the monuments which fill our TV screens. This course asks who they were and how they did it.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. analyse the key concepts, themes and narratives used to explain prehistoric European societies;
2. develop novel research questions based on these key concepts, themes and theories and using supporting evidence from the archaeological record;
3. recognise important sites and material culture from prehistoric Europe and discuss them within larger technological, social and culture-historical contexts; and
4. evaluate and compare key archaeological data and present them in a sophisticated manner in writing and orally.

Research-Led Teaching

The course assessment is structured around an independent research project from related to professional research contexts in the field.

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 to European prehistory
2	The hunter-gatherer background
3	The earliest Neolithic in Europe
4	The Linearbandkeramik
5	Megaliths, monuments & copper
6	The beginning of the Bronze Age
7	Tumuli and Urnfields	Object Lesson podcast due
8	The Nordic Bronze Age
9	Iberia in Later prehistory	Annotated Bibliography due
10	The rise of Iron Age chiefdoms
11	The La Tene period
12	The long Iron Age of the Atlantic fringes	Exhibition book chapter due

Tutorial Registration

You will have a choice to register for a remote (zoom) or in-person tutorial

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Guided discussion	20 %	*	1,2,4
Object lesson podcast	15 %	13/04/2025	1,2,4
Annotated Bibliography	25 %	04/05/2025	1,2,4
Introductory Chapter to the exhibition book	40 %	25/05/2025	1,2,3,4

* 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

Guided discussion

A variety of required and supplementary readings will be prepared for each week’s topic. You will be required to ‘guide’ the discussion of this material twice during the semester. To do so, you will read not only the Required resources, but also the majority of the supplementary readings to gain a fully rounded appreciation of the topic at hand.

You should prepare notes on this material to briefly introduce the required resources (key points, author’s background, major case studies, how the readings fit with the larger topic).

Using this context, you will also develop several general and more specific discussion questions for the weekly seminar to encourage your classmates to engage with the reading and discuss it. It's perfectly fine to ask questions you don't have the answer for (encouraged even!) and if you didn't understand something, make a note of it because chances are your classmates didn't either.

Assessment Task 2

Object lesson podcast

You have been invited to prepare an 8-minute long feature for a radio program about one of the objects in your exhibition. This ‘object lesson’ should take the listener along with you as you look closely at the object you choose. You should carefully describe it, explain its cultural, social, and technological context (don’t forget the date!) and anything known about its archaeological recovery. Don’t just tell the story of this one thing, make sure you promote your exhibition – how does the object connect? Why is it so important? Is the object the centre-piece of your exhibition or one people might overlook? Why did you choose it?

Think carefully about the audience – what radio program has invited you? Who are you speaking to? – as you talk about your object, but make sure all your information is carefully researched and based in up to date scholarship.

Submit the transcript and bibliography of your podcast alongside the audio file.

You will not be assessed on technical skill but on the content, structure and presentation of your research into your chosen object.

Assessment Task 3

Annotated Bibliography

As you begin to research your research project, you will need to produce an annotated bibliography (examples and helpful resources will be made available on wattle) of key references. This annotated bibliography should be 3-5 pages in length and include at least 15 references. Reference types should include key books, chapters and journal articles.

 

Your annotations should address (briefly! Complete sentences not required!):

The main points/thesis of the work, effectiveness of the arguments

The author’s authority (eg, what other work in the field has he or she done? What do published reviews say about the work?), point of view, etc.

Contextualisation of the work within its larger field

Relevance to your research topic

Assessment Task 4

Introductory Chapter to the exhibition book

You have chosen to prepare a glossy and highly researched book to accompany your exhibition. This includes essays from various specialists on the period, materials, topic, etc. as well as your own essays about the process of creating the exhibition and many many many images of the wonderful things you’ve brought together.

You will prepare and submit the 2500-word introductory chapter to this volume. This chapter should be based in independent research and introduce the reader to the main aims of your exhibition, the big questions it asks or ideas it proposes and the archaeological context that make it so interesting. You should introduce (in broad terms) the suite of objects and other things on display and explain why this group of things were chose. You may also choose to contextualise this archaeological data with some information about your museum and its mission, community, and stakeholders.

With this introductory chapter you are doing a few things:

-Contextualising your exhibition, explaining its big ideas and linking them to the scholarly literature

-Introducing the material and ideas on display and contextualising them archaeologically

-Making an argument (the argument or narrative of your exhibition) through these objects about a particular topic in European prehistory (ie, the theme of your exhibition)

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 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. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students