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Our
Department offers courses that focus on the prehistory of Africa, with a
particular focus on Southern Africa. We
have an excellent teaching record; two of our faculty members have won the Distinguished Teachers Award.
Although the department
is based in the Science Faculty, Archaeology is also taught in the
Humanities, so that students may study Archaeology as either a Science or
Humanities subject. For
more information on our courses, please visit individual course
websites, or contact us.
IMPORTANT ANOUNCEMENT FOR ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS PLANNING ON GRADUATING WITH A DEGREE IN ARCHAEOLOGY IN 2011!!!!!!
SAN 1015F WORDS, DEEDS, BONES and things This course compares different approaches to questions such as ‘How do we explain the origins of our species and the diversity of human social, cultural and linguistic forms that have arisen as humans have developed into, and now live as modern people?’ The course explores what lies behind the many ways people interact, communicate and use the material resources around them. Key topics include culture, kinship, "race," gender, material culture, and cultural relativism. Controversial issues -- particularly those with differing sociological and archaeological "slants" -- are used to introduce academic discourse and to emphasize the importance of such shared discourse in the production of new knowledge. age 1002s Africa and World archaeology This overview of the human past -- from the perspective of Africa -- paints a broad picture of human activity from its inception to the colonial period. The course provides an introduction to human origins, the origin of the archaeological record in Africa, human population expansion out of Africa, comparative perspectives on hunter-gatherers, farming development and the origins of complex societies, and colonial period contact between Africa, Asia, and Europe. geo 1009f introduction to earth and environmental sciences Presented jointly by the Departments of Archaeology, Environmental and Geographical Science and Geological Sciences, this course covers broad topics on the structure and dynamics of the earth, stratigraphy and geological history, climatology, surface processes and evolution of landscapes, biogeography, and humans and the environment. AGE 2012F Southern African Hunters and Herders: Khoisan history, identity, rock art and heritage Humans have been hunter-gatherers for 99% of their evolutionary history, which means that our physical, psychological and social selves have been shaped by this way of life. Southern African Khoisan hunter-gatherers and herders have contributed significantly to our understanding of such societies. In this course, we focus on hunting and gathering as a way of life in Southern Africa from some 20 000 years ago to the twentieth century, concluding by considering the contemporary socio-political environment, in which many South Africans are (re-)connecting to a Khoisan identity. The course will include coverage of rock art and its significance, as well as other material culture, biology, linguistics and economic and environmental issues. age 2011S human evolution This course provides a thorough understanding of both the processes which have driven (and continue to drive) human evolution, and the tangible products of this evolution. This includes in depth study of the archaeological evidence of human evolution and the development of human culture during the late Pliocene and Pleistocene. Broader understanding of this evidence is gained through general study of natural selection, basic human genetics, morphological variation, and our place among the other primates in nature. AGE 3011F The Roots of Black Identity: the peopling of South Africa This course explores the history of southern Africa’s people over the past 2000 years. Why are southern African populations so diverse? What lies behind the linguistic map of modern South Africa? What are the links between human biology, culture and language? We use the archaeological record of artefacts, settlement systems, food waste, environmental contexts and human skeletons to look at population movement, assimilation, conflict, co-operation and domination. We explain the origins of current demographic patterns, problematise the notion of ‘settler’ and explore the rich and diverse heritage of the making of South Africa. AGE 3012S Global Interaction and the Transformation of Southern African Society
Over the
last thousand years, trade, population movements and exploratory settlement led
to massive impacts on indigenous economies in southern Africa. This course looks
at these transformations from both foreign and local viewpoints. The
archaeological record of Indian and Atlantic Ocean expansions record events of
great significance and drama, including the process of colonization, slavery,
genocide and eventually apartheid. Material culture, historic written records
and excavated artefacts all inform our understanding of these events, many of
them the major determinants of current conflicts and differences. We trace the
history of interactions, the roots of inequalities and the course of
differentiation through the archaeological record. AGE 3013H Archaeology in Practice Field training in site location, excavation, field note taking, stratigraphic observation, site survey, use of GPS and total station, photography, rock art recording, processing of field observations, spreadsheet use, preliminary conservation and accessioning of materials. This class is a requirement for Archaeology majors. age 3006h directed reading and research This is a flexible intensive study course in a specific area customized to the needs of individual students. age 4000w bsc (hons) in archaeology The purpose of the Honours programme in Archaeology is to look in depth at current issues in the discipline, both internationally and in South Africa, Those taking part are expected to become fully involved in the academic life of the Department, attending seminars given by staff members, research students, and visitors. In addition, they must participate in the structured programme of lectures and tutorials, and write a research dissertation. age 4001w bsc (hons) in archaeology and environmental science Using the resources of both the Departments of Archaeology and Environmental & Geographical Science, this honours programme focuses on the paleoenvironmental context in which humans lived during the long course of the Quaternary. Course requirements include modules from both Archaeology and Environmental & Geographical Science and a research project and dissertation. short course: principles and practice of stable light isotopes Stable light isotope analysis is one of the key tools in the study of ancient and modern environments and climates, because it allows precise tracing and quantification of change. This course introduces students to the principles of stable light isotope approaches and outlines the history of the field. It then proceeds to discuss applications of the major light isotopes (especially H, C, N, O) in the life and earth sciences. These include applications in hydrology, paleooceanography, global climate change, plant sciences, archaeology, palaeoanthropology and palaeontology. This credit bearing intensive short course consists of a week of intensive lecture and laboratory sessions, which in 2011 will run from 30 May to 03 June, with optional additional laboratory training to be negotiated on an individual basis, depending on the student’s needs. For more information, including registration forms, contact Prof Judith Sealy (Judith.SealyATuct.ac.za). age 5000w msc in archaeology Masters degrees in Archaeology are research degrees by thesis/dissertation only. Candidates will be required to present a dissertation on an approved topic. age 6000w phd in archaeology Candidates will be required to present a thesis on an approved topic. Candidates are referred to the rules for this degree as set out in Book 3, General rules and policies.
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