ANTHRO 207

Archaeological History of Aotearoa New Zealand


Please note: this is archived course information from 2020 for ANTHRO 207.

Description

In this course we use archaeological evidence to investigate the origins and history of Māori, beginning in the ancestral homeland of East Polynesia and continuing through to the early Māori-European contact period (c. 1840). We consider ongoing debates about when and how New Zealand was first settled, the challenges faced by tropical Polynesians adapting to a temperate environment and other aspects of Māori settlements, subsistence economy, material culture and sociopolitical life over time.

The course emphasises how archaeological techniques can be used to understand cultural dynamics in the past, and in particular those relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand’s early human history.

Learning Outcomes

A student who successfully completes this course will have the opportunity to:

  • Acquire knowledge of the archaeological history of Aotearoa New Zealand and  Māori origins and lifeways prior to European arrival
  • Understand and carry out library research and critical analyses
  • Acquire skills in academic literacy, critical thinking and cross-cultural perspectives

Assessment

Coursework only

View the course syllabus

Availability 2020

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Professor Melinda S. Allen

Assessment

Coursework only; no exam

Points

ANTHRO 207: 15 points

Prerequisites

60 points passed 

Restrictions

ANTHRO 365