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. 

ARCH8002 is a Winter Session course and is run as an intensive field course which aims to provide students with experience in excavation, stratigraphic recording, site planning, artefact recording and an understanding of the complex relationships between sites and the landscapes in which they occur. The course is planned to run within the Winter Session (Semester 1 – Semester 2 teaching break). 

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.

Students are advised that this course normally carries extra costs, additional to course fees. 

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 2012.

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.