The parts played by Australian archaeology and anthropology in the development of understanding of the evolution of humans in general will be explored. The course will examine key aspects of Aboriginal culture and society, the great diversity of indigenous Australian cultures, and the environmental factors that have influences the evolution of that diversity. A major feature of the course will be the high proportion of the teaching done by indigenous Australians, particularly in the areas of cultural presentation and interpretation, study of the impacts of European colonization on Aboriginal society and political issues in Australia. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for this course. Undergraduate students should have completed at least a semester or study in a 2 or 4 year institution.
All graduate students are eligible.
This course involves extensive travel on the east coast of Australia including Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Heron Island, Gladstone and Cairns. Students will visit various Australian universities during this course and see a wide variety of destinations. Most remarkable is the visit to Heron Island and the finale in Cairns. This is a sample itinerary and does not cover all aspects of the tour. Full program itineraries will be available upon inquiry.