Course syllabus

ANTHRO 207/365
Coming of the Māori: Archaeology of Aotearoa New Zealand
Semester 2, 2018

Photo credits

 

In this course we use archaeological evidence to investigate the origins and prehistory of Māori. The course emphasizes how archaeological techniques can be used to understand cultural dynamics in the past, particularly those relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand’s early human history. By the end of this course you should be able to answer the following questions:

When did the ancestors of Māori arrive and from where?
How did the ancestors of Māori adapt to the environments of Aotearoa?
Who settled the Chatham Islands, and how was their history different from mainland Māori?
How did settlement patterns, material culture and local economies change over time?
How did these vary between different regions and between the North and South Islands?
When and why did Māori begin building pa (i.e., fortifications)?
How did Māori culture change with the arrival of Europeans?
How is the material heritage of Māori being conserved?

In this class you will learn how to think like an archaeologist and use material remains to understand life in the past. This will include developing an understanding of methods and techniques that are commonly used in New Zealand archaeology, such as radiocarbon dating, faunal analysis, and geophysical survey. The aim of the course is to acquaint you with the current archaeological evidence and theories regarding the first human settlement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Course Resources

Full Course Outline

Weekly Readings and Assignments

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.

 

arts-logo.png

Course summary:

Date Details Due