ARK4150 - Cape Field School Programme - South Africa
| Facts about this course: |
| Credits: | 30 |
| Teaching semester: | Every autumn semester
Kurs holdt vår 2007. Heretter blir det hver høst - første gang høst 2007.
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| Examination semester: | Every autumn semester
Eksamen vår 2007 - deretter hver høst
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| Language of instruction: | English |
| Administrated by: | Institutt for arkeologi, konservering og historie (IAKH) |
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| Detailed course information - Current and previous semesters:
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Course content
The Cape Field School programme is held annually during the South African summer months of January – April. The school offers a rare opportunity to learn about southern African archaeology from both a theoretical and practical perspective. The program is particularly suited to archaeology graduates and undergraduates who wish to become archaeologists. However, it will also benefit students who have an interest in social anthropology, ecology, zoology and botany. Students will participate in classroom and excavation activities during an intensive twelve week field school based in Cape Town and at De Hoop Nature Reserve.
Learning outcomes
Students will, in addition to get detailed theoretical background to the southern African Stone Ages, also receive a practical training in laying out a site, excavation techniques, processing and recording finds and finds analysis.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes or individual courses at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for by registering a study plan in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisites
Bachelor in archaeology. Admission to master program in archaeology.
Teaching
- Module 1 consists of a week of formal classes held at the
African Heritage Research Institute in Cape Town. Expert local archaeologists
and historians provide a detailed theoretical background to the southern
African Stone Ages. The Field School then moves to De Hoop Nature Reserve for
the next 6 weeks.
- Module 2 provides two week's practical training in field
craft, geology, faunal osteology, shellfish identification, lithic technology,
surveying, site location and recording and assessing site potential. A
practical exam on faunal osteology, shellfish and lithics follows
- Module 3 focuses on hands-on training in all aspects of
site excavation. Students receive practical training in laying out a site,
excavation techniques, processing and recording finds and finds analysis. For
two weeks we excavate a Later Stone Age site, Vaalkrans Shelter, located in De
Hoop. Excavation is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and Wednesday is
spent sorting and analysing the recovered material. Each artefact larger than 2
cm is piece plotted using XYZ co-ordinates during excavation and then
identified to body part, species, raw material etc. This information is entered
on a record sheet and plotted on graph paper. The artefact is placed in a zip
top bag with the relevant information recorded on the bag. Thus, the excavation
process is slow but accurate and theoretically each piece recovered could be
placed back in the exact position from which it was recovered. This information
is vital when we look at spatial patterning within the site and tells us how
people organised their activities within the cave. Students are expected to
keep a detailed field journal that is evaluated, as is the performance of field
and analysis tasks.
- During Module 4 students design and make an informative
poster on a topic of their choice relating to ecology or archaeology in the De
Hoop area. The information included should be accessible to a diverse,
non-archaeologist audience. There is a 15 minute presentation of the findings
on your poster to local school children from previously disadvantaged
backgrounds during an open day at the centre.
- Module 5 comprises a 2 week tour of archaeological sites
within the Western Cape. This includes staying for a week near Blombos Cave , two nights at Plettenberg Bay visiting Nelson Bay Cave and Matjes River; two
nights at McGregor for a wine tour of the region and three nights in the
Cederberg. Here we visit well known rock art sites and Hollow Rock Shelter. We
then return to Cape Town.
- During Module 6 you spend 4 weeks in Cape Town. This time
is set aside for researching an essay topic that is handed in after Week 3. It
is then evaluated and you are given your final grade before you return to
Norway.
Exam information
- Module 2: A practical exam on faunal osteology, shellfish
and lithics follows.
- Module 3: Students are expected to keep a detailed field
journal that is evaluated, as is the performance of field and analysis tasks.
- Module 4: There is a 15 minute presentation of the findings
on your poster to local school children during an open day at the centre
- Module 6: 4 weeks in Cape Town. This time is set aside for
researching an essay topic that is handed in after Week 3. It is then
evaluated.
Other information
Studentene må selv bekoste reise, kost og
opphold
Editors: Redaksjon for studietilbudet ved UiO
Document created: 10.10.2005, modified: 02.11.2007Administrer dette dokumentet