The new ANU Masters program in Archaeological Science enables researchers to use facilities and expertise across the full swathe of interaction between Earth, Biological, Spatial and Archaeological Sciences.

This involves study of events and human engagements in global environments across the last several million years - the Quaternary. During this time - human development and population spread across the globe has occurred against a backdrop of rapid and abrupt shifts in climate, major sea level fluctuations and climatically forced shifts in vegetation and animal populations.

Studying how past human populations responded to these environmental changes provides important insights into the challenges facing modern human populations and societies. Archaeological Science is in a unique position to provide preserved materials, stratigraphy and dated contexts which provide baselines for studying past human biology, diet, disease and habitats. The materials may be gut contents, skeletal bone, hair, discarded tools, built structures or depictions of animals as art.

The environments of past human populations can be accessed as microscopic remains in soils, as geochemical signatures in corals or shells, as evidence of ash layers, as beaches left by storms, or mud left by floods.

Our aim is to understand the past in the present. We aim to inform policy. Engineering solutions in flood protection schemes, water management or salinity management, may all benefit from understanding longer term trends, thresholds and changes which are preserved in the archaeological layers of sites and the soils of past landscapes.

We want to improve the training of environmental scientists and managers for the future. We aim to provide a unique forum for interdisciplinary debate, cross-checking of data and theory, and finding solutions. We believe perspective and a broad vision are key skills. The new cross-College Masters in Archaeological Science wants to show how genetics, geology and gut contents interact - in areas as diverse as the past ecologies of shell-fish eaten by humans, through to food, wine and beer manufacture and consumption.

For further information read this brochure or contact program coordinator Tony Barham: Anthony.Barham@anu.edu.au