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School of Archaeology and Anthropology · ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
This course is designed to provide students with a practical introduction to basic archaeological field and laboratory methods. Its focus is on on techniques of excavation, archaeological stratigraphy, the recording of artefacts and the analysis and interpretation of structures, features and excavated materials. The course comprises field experience at a mock site on the ANU Campus.
Portfolio/Practical book (Personal excavation 'diary' itemising the processes of excavation, mapping, and curation, 2000 words
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3
Site report describing the excavation process and findings of research, 2000 words
Learning outcomes 4
Class tests, 40 minutes each (20% each for a total of 40%)
Learning outcomes 1, 3
130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 48 hours of contact over 2 weeks: 8 hours of lectures and 40 hours of field instruction or structured learning activities; and b) 82 hours of independent student research, reading and writing. Work Integrated Learning Fieldwork Archaeological Field Methods provides students with the opportunity to learn all the necessary skills for excavation of an archaeological site. The course comprises a week long intensive activity on campus at the ANU in a simulated excavation pit that has been prepared by the course convenor containing eco-facts, artefacts and features. All the needed skills including mapping, section drawing excavation, cataloguing and harris matrix preparation are taught.
H. Burke & C. Smith 2004 The Archaeologist’s Field Handbook, Allen & Unwin. Preliminary Reading Barker, P. 1993 Techniques of Archaeological Excavation. London: Batsford. Coles, J. 1977 Field Archaeology in Britain. London: Methuen. Connah, G. (ed.) 1983 Australian Field Archaeology: a guide to techniques. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies. (A.I.A.S. Manual No.4). Fladmark, K. A Guide to Basic Archaeological Field Procedures. Burnaby: Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University. Flood, J. F., I. Johnson and S. Sullivan (eds) 1989 Sites and Bytes: recording Aboriginal places in Australia. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. (Special Australian Heritage Publications No.8). Frankel, D. 1991 Remains to be Seen: archaeological insights in to Australian prehistory. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire. Gale, F. and J. Jacobs 1987 Tourists and the National Estate: procedures to protect Australia's heritage. Canberra: Australian Heritage Commission. Hester, T. R., Shafer, H. J. and Feder, K. L. 1997 Field Methods in Archaeology. Mountain View, Calif.: Mayfield Publishing. (Seventh Edition or later). Hogg, A. H. A. 1986 Surveying for Archaeologists and other Fieldworkers. London: Croom Helm. Jonas, W. 1991 Consultation With Aboriginal People About Aboriginal Heritage. Canberra: Australian Heritage Commission. Joukowsky, M. 1980 A Complete Manual of Field Archaeology: tools and techniques of field work for archaeologists. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Marquis-Kyle, P. and M. Walker 1992 The Illustrated Burra Chapter: making good decisions about the care of important places. Sydney: Australia ICOMOS Inc.