As a body of theory and associated techniques it may, of course, be applied to many different periods and aspects of the human past. So we have many archaeologies, e.g. prehistoric, classical, historical, maritime, just to mention a few. In this School we have a major focus on the archaeology of the prehistoric past. However, the comprehensive range of courses offered in prehistory and archaeology will equip students to specialise later in any branch of the discipline. The archaeology of culture contact, together with units which focus on the politics of the past and gender in archaeology and archaeological theory provide a framework for the consideration of how archaeology intersects with the contemporary world.
Anthropology is the study of human evolution, biology, society and culture.
The anthropology program aims to describe, analyse and account for the similarities and differences among human populations and is, therefore, comparative and cross-cultural in outlook. It is also holistic, seeking to integrate knowledge about the whole range of human behaviours. Historical anthropology, the interface between history, anthropology and archaeology is another recent focus. It is also concerned with the non-human primates, and with current debates on the biological bases of human social behaviour. The Aboriginal Studies Program enables students with an interest in Aboriginal Studies to take a set of interrelated units in different disciplines without the normal prerequisite required in each unit.