ATS2351 The archaeology of death in ancient Egypt
Faculty of Arts
ATS2351 The archaeology of death in ancient Egypt is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 5 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ATS2351
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2351
No unit lists ATS2351 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: Twelve credit points of first-year Arts units.
Prohibition: ATS3351
Overview
This unit charts the developments in Egyptian culture from 3050 BCE to 1650 BCE (the Old and Middle Kingdoms), using a wide range of material evidence and exploring modern theories to understand the processes involved. It focuses especially on how the ancient Egyptians engaged with death and how this helped shape their world view, including their expectations for the afterlife and the importance of preparing for this. We examine the phenomenon of the pyramids as the architectural manifestation of beliefs in the afterlife of the king, as well as the tombs of royal dependants and workers.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Quiz/QuizzesQuiz / Test20%
- Quiz/QuizzesQuiz / Test20%
- Presentation10%
- Weekly worksheetsExercise10%
- EssayWritten40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify and describe archaeological methods and theories to used in studying the customs and practices involved in death;
- 2
analyse the main textual and archaeological sources for the reconstruction of Egyptian culture and critically assess the theories used to interpret them;
- 3
describe the main features of Egyptian culture from the emergence of a unified state to the end of the Middle Kingdom;
- 4
discuss elements of the ancient Egyptian world view and how this influences our interpretation of their culture and artefacts;
- 5
communicate findings verbally and in writing.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
This unit engages you in enquiry-based learning, where you will be encouraged to use their own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.
This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
Where it fits
ATS2351 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Anna Stevens
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Anna Stevens
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2351?
ATS2351 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2351 offered?
In 2026, ATS2351 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS2351?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2351 have an exam?
No. ATS2351 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2351?
ATS2351 is part of Archaeology and ancient history.