Becoming an archaeologist requires both book learning and the acquisition of practical skills. The School of Archaeology and Anthropology (SAA) has built fieldwork training into the undergraduate and taught Masters programmes to support the development of a more skilled and employable student cohort. The scaffolded approach to fieldwork training that has been established incorporates field trips and intensive fieldwork sessions in otherwise classroom-based courses, an on-campus mock-excavation attached to an archaeological methods course to simulate the fieldwork experience in an accessible environment and three off campus field schools.
Fieldwork training and field schools
ON CAMPUS
Archaeological field methods (ARCH2061)
Practical training in excavation methods with an on-campus simulated archaeological excavation.
Managing, mapping and detecting archaeological sites (ARCH8034)
Practical training in remote sensing and survey methods.
Master Class in Archaeological Science (ARCH8037)
Various annual topics, frequently including fieldwork elements.
FIELD SCHOOLS
Triabunna Historic Archaeology Field School (ARCH2055& ARCH8029/8030/8031)
Excavation of a 19th/20th century site in eastern Tasmania.
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Ribchester Revisited (ARCH2055& ARCH8029/8030/8031)
Excavation of a Roman fort in northern England.
Dig Wölpe/Nienburg (ARCH2055& ARCH8029/8030/8031)
Excavation of a Saxon and medieval castle.
Advanced Field Training in Archaeological Science Vanuatu field school (ARCH8002)
Lapita period excavation in Vanuatu.
On-campus classes with a field element
Arch2004/6004: Australian Archaeology
Three day workshop on collaborative practice with Traditional Owners in Ulladulla/Shoalhaven.
Arch2041/6041: Environmental Archaeology
Guided field trip to study Indigenous Australian Environmental Knowledge.
Arch8032: Introduction to Archaeological Science
Four days of practical training with archaeologists and Traditional Owners at ANU’s Kioloa Campus.
Other archaeological fieldwork training opportunities
Springbank community excavation (2015)
Small-scale excavation of Indigenous sites on Springbank Island in Canberra