Australia's ancient Indigenous past: A 65,000 year archaeological odyssey

In this unit, you will examine  the range of techniques and theoretical frameworks used by archaeologists to understand Australia's 65,000-year plus Indigenous history. The focus will be archaeological sites and debates associated with the interpretation of excavated cultural materials. Topics covered include the origins of the First Peoples of Australia (including Torres Strait Islanders), processes of continental colonisation, responses to environmental and sea level change, broad-scale social changes, and encounters with Makassan traders and European colonists on the frontier. You will also examine long-term changes in the development of trading networks, rock art  and social organisation.