Archaeological Methods and Discoveries
Students will investigate the techniques archaeologists use to uncover and interpret physical remains of ancient civilisations.
Key Questions
- Explain the process archaeologists follow when excavating a site.
- Compare the types of information archaeologists gain from artefacts versus written records.
- Assess the ethical considerations involved in archaeological digs and discoveries.
ACARA Content Descriptions
About This Topic
This topic focuses on the extraordinary depth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, which extend back over 65,000 years. It positions Australia's First Peoples as the oldest continuous living culture on Earth, a central pillar of the ACARA HASS curriculum. Students explore the scientific and archaeological evidence, such as the Madjedbebe rock shelter and Mungo Man, alongside the sophisticated oral traditions and Songlines that have preserved knowledge across millennia.
By framing this as 'Deep Time', students learn to appreciate the scale of Australian history compared to other ancient civilisations. This perspective fosters a deeper respect for Indigenous connection to Country and the resilience of First Nations cultures. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the timeline of human habitation in Australia, visualising the vastness of 65,000 years through collaborative mapping and discussion.
Active Learning Ideas
Inquiry Circle: The 65-Metre Timeline
Using a long rope or a playground space, the class creates a physical timeline where 1 metre equals 1,000 years. Students place markers for the arrival of First Nations peoples (65m), the Pyramids (4.5m), and British colonisation (0.23m) to visually grasp the scale of Deep Time.
Gallery Walk: Evidence of Continuity
Display images and descriptions of different evidence types: DNA studies, carbon dating from Madjedbebe, the Lake Mungo burials, and oral stories of volcanic eruptions. Students move in pairs to identify how each piece of evidence proves the longevity of First Nations culture.
Think-Pair-Share: Oral Traditions as Records
Students listen to or read a First Nations story that describes a geographical change (like the flooding of Port Phillip Bay). They discuss in pairs how this story functions as a historical record and then share why this method was effective for preserving history for thousands of years.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionAustralian history only started with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.
What to Teach Instead
This ignores 65,000 years of complex society. Using physical timelines helps students see that 1788 is just a tiny fraction of the continent's human story.
Common MisconceptionFirst Nations peoples were 'primitive' because they didn't have a written language.
What to Teach Instead
Oral traditions, Songlines, and art are highly sophisticated methods of data storage. Active comparison of oral records with scientific data helps students respect these complex knowledge systems.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Deep Time' in the Australian Curriculum?
How do we know First Nations people have been here for 65,000 years?
What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching Deep Time?
Why is it called the 'oldest continuous civilisation'?
More in Investigating the Ancient Past
Introduction to Historical Inquiry
Students will explore the fundamental questions historians ask and the types of evidence they seek to understand the past.
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Oral Traditions and Indigenous Histories
Students will examine the significance of oral traditions as historical sources, focusing on their role in preserving the histories of Australia's First Peoples.
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Deep Time: Evidence of First Peoples
Students will explore archaeological and scientific evidence demonstrating the deep time history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.
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Timelines and Chronological Thinking
Students will practice constructing and interpreting timelines, understanding the concept of periodisation and its implications for historical narratives.
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Cause, Effect, Continuity, and Change
Students will apply historical thinking concepts to analyse how events and developments in the past are interconnected and how societies evolve or remain stable over time.
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