Success in field research in archaeology requires considerable expertise in balancing scientific approaches and objectives with consideration of community interests, logistics, ethical consideration and risk management. This course embeds students within research-led archaeological fieldwork, often in remote areas, and focuses on investigation methods, data acquisition, assessment of scientific heritage values and methods, and community outreach by archaeological scientists and resource  managers. 

Emphasis is on learning and refining high level technical skills and understanding how these can be applied to better  understand archaeological site formation processes and environmental management issues at the site scale,  working in Australia and SE Asia.

In 2011 the ARCH8002 Winter Session course will run as an intensive course (as at Anuru Bay in 2010) on a complex of archaeological sites located near the East Alligator River, Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia. The intensive field course is planned to run within the teaching break between the 2^nd July and the 17^th July 2011. Further details of the program, will be finalized by commencement of Semester 1 2011. Pre-readings will be issued well ahead of Summer Session commencement.

Students are advised that this course carries extra costs, additional to course fees, of return flights into and out of Darwin.

http://archaeology.anu.edu.au/archaeologicalscience/fieldwork-schools

On satisfying the requirements of this course students will have the knowledge and skills to:

* Plan and execute the design and delivery of a team research exercise in a remote area as a desk-top exercise.

* Acquire primary archaeological field data in georeferenced form to a high standard for archive purposes or research.

* Work to a high standard and safely within remote area conditions.

* Relate the significance of archaeological and environmental data from a site and its setting to local regional and national policy frameworks and issues of value and significance.

* Demonstrate understanding of community consultation and ethical considerations.

For the 6 unit version: Indicative assessment to include Key issue review paper (20%); portfolio of data, field drawings, images, maps to a professional archive standard and self-reflective digital and written diaries of daily field experiences and group tasks/discussions (70%) and de-briefing group participation (10%). Total word length equivalent to 6,000 words maximum. For the 12 unit version: load will be normally be double the load required for the 6 unit version and will include a focused research report of maximum 6000 words additional to the assessment requirement for 6 units.

Workload will be appropriate to 6 - 12 unit value. The course will involve a pre course briefing, 7 - 10 days field training, a post course meeting. Assessment will be predominantly based on activities and work produced during the field course.

Consent is required prior to enrolling in this course. Students interested in enrolling in ARCH 8002 must seek permission from the Convenor of the Archaeological Science program early in 2011. In order to secure air flight bookings and complete insurance compliance, students should book a place on this course no later than 1 May 2011.

Foundation knowledge and field skills in surveying and field training as taught in ARCH8032, or comparable prior archaeological or professional experience, is assumed. Masters in Arch. Science program students are encouraged to use the opportunities for supervised field access, participation and data collection in this course to develop and drive personal research projects (PRPS) in the courses ARCH8027, ARCH6051, ARCH8030, ARCH8031 (to be completed subsequently on campus for their M. Arch Science degree).

Australian Heritage Commission (2002) Ask First: a Guide to respecting Indigenous Heritage Places and Values. Australian Heritage Commission: Canberra.

Brothwell, D.R. and Pollard, A.M. (eds) 2001 Handbook of Archaeological Sciences John Wiley: Chichester.

David, B. and Thomas, J. (eds) 2008 Handbook of Landscape Archaeology. Left Coast Press: Walnut Creek.

Roskams, S. 2001 Excavation. Cambridge Manuals In Archaeology. CUP: Cambridge.

Variable. GPS, GIS and Total Station Survey equipment and cameras. Use of facilities and equipment loan from Geospatial Information Unit, CAP.