Course coordinator
Dr Michael Westaway
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (10/05/2024 - 30/08/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
Students must apply to the School for enrolment in this course.
This course is a residential field school teaching practical core archaeological skills (survey, excavation, artefact analysis, and faunal analysis) through participation in an authentic research setting. There will be lectures at the field site. Students will learn how field research is structured and implemented in archaeological research and cultural heritage management. Field locations will vary each year.
This course will have limited student enrolments. Preference is given to students who have completed ARCA1000 and ARCA/ARCS1001. Preference is also given to students enrolled in the extended major in archaeology.
Contact the School of Social Science (student.socsci@uq.edu.au) to express your interest in this course and to receive the application information.
This course may not run, depending on provision of an appropriate field school site.
ARCS2060 is designed to provide archaeological field experience and field training in authentic research settings. The course is focused onﾠfieldworkﾠat an important Aboriginalﾠarchaeological site.ﾠ The fieldwork will focus on survey and mapping of the largest complex of estuarine middens in temperate Australia at Clybucca and Stuarts Point near Kempsey on the mid north coast of NSW. The courseﾠwill provide practical training in archaeological survey and report writing.ﾠ
The courseﾠteachesﾠstudents a specific set of field skills, with the end result designed to be an overview of archaeological survey from setup to finalisation and reporting.
Emphasis will be placed on how to evaluate real problems and make informed decisions that will guide fieldwork and assessment of the significance of archaeological sites. Students will learn about the general background context to the site and broader cultural landscape and how to focus fieldwork so that it meets projectﾠobjectives. They will also be introduced to the concept of 'intangible heritage' and why it is important to be aware of documenting such values. Students will be exposed to the day-to-day management issues that lie behind successful field projects: collaborative team work, community consultation and liaison, and the realities of undertaking fieldwork in remote localities.ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠ
Students will learn to balance foresight with flexibility in an authentic field environment where unpredictable external factors (e.g. weather, equipment, fortuitous discoveries) can influence daily outcomes. During fieldworkﾠstudents will learn how to identifyﾠartefacts and makeﾠbasic interpretations regarding site function. Students will also be taught to consider management options for archaeological sites. Students will keep a field notebook for recording weather conditions, site information, survey details, their specific team members, and any other relevant information.
Please note that if you fall ill at the time of departure for the field work and provide a medical certificate you will be reimbursed money paid for the field school.
ﾠ
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ARCA1000, ARCS1000 and 4 units of other ARCA/ARCS courses
Restrictions
No restrictions, but BA Extended major Archaeology students will be given preference.
Course contact
School enquiries
Student Enquiries School of Social Science
Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland.
Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Michael Westaway
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
There will be twoﾠpre-fieldwork workshops held at UQ prior to departure (16 June 2024). The first workshop will be held on 10 Mayﾠand will cover the basics of the field work and some contextual background. The second workshop will focus on professional and ethical practice in field archaeology and will focus on survey and mapping and will be held on 31 May.
In preparation for the Professional Practice workshop students will be required to read the Student Code of Conduct policy. Students will also be required to complete UQ workplace inductions and OHS training. Finally, you will be required to complete the module Respect at UQ module. It will be necessary to undertake this background work in order to take part on the fieldwork. Please also read Emerson 2021 in preparation for this workshop.
Aims and outcomes
1. Provide an introduction to archaeological fieldwork in an authentic setting.
2. Provide experience in the logistical, ethical, theoretical, and practical considerations of doing fieldwork.
3. Equip students with the theoretical and practical skills to link fieldwork to its research and/or contractual goals.
4. Train students to use field equipment and think critically about its application.
5. Provide students with experiences in working with Aboriginal communities.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
GENERAL: Contextualise fieldwork within the general research framework.
LO2.
SURVEY: Identify and justify new localities of archaeological interest.
LO3.
SURVEY: Effectively record and sample surface sites, including photography and mapping.
LO4.
SURVEY: Know how to use specialised equipment such as hand-held GPS and mapping tablets.
LO5.
SURVEY: Know how to organise time and resources to meet set survey targets.
LO6.
FIELD PROCESSING: Understand how decisions made in the field translate to the laboratory.
LO7.
FIELD PROCESSING: Process artefacts and samples in the field preparation for documentation and analysis.
LO8.
FIELD PROCESSING: Record and analyse archaeological materials and artefacts (stone tools, shell, bone etc) using standard techniques
LO9.
REPORTING: Keep a field notebook and extract information from it for reporting purposes.
LO10.
REPORTING: Report results of fieldwork through an archaeological site report.
LO11.
REPORTING: Contextualise reporting of field activities within a larger research agenda.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poster |
Site interpretation signage task
|
10% |
15/07/2024 2:00 pm |
| Notebook/ Logbook | Field notebook | 40% |
12/08/2024 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Archaeological site report | 50% |
30/08/2024 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Site interpretation signage task
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Poster
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
15/07/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
You must complete an interpretation sign of an archaeological site in the Stuarts Point midden complex area. The sign should be no more than 200 words and include 2-3 images. A collage of images is also possible and line drawings can also be effective. The main function of the sign is to convey information about the site and its significance, ensure it is jargon free with the interpretative text accessible to a year level 9 education. Quality on-site interpretations do not contain too many words as quite often a visitor to a prominent archaeological site will not spend too much time reading large amounts of text.
Your sign content should be considered as a “frame” that facilitates reading and interpreting the archaeological site within its landscape setting. A good interpretive sign can assist the archaeological site reach its full potential in highlight the significance and meaning of the site.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to http://learn.uq.edu.au/ with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted. Turnitin links will be configured to permit early submission of assessment items. Students will have the opportunity to submit draft assignments to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment in order to review similarity index content and to improve academic writing practice in accordance with UQ Academic Integrity policies. By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. Please note that on the preview page, your assignment will be shown without formatting. Your assignment will retain formatting and your coordinator/tutor will be able to see formatted assignments. Once you have submitted your assignment you are able to go back and view your submission with the correct formatting. You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted, please submit again. If you are unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you need to apply for an extension.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Papers and take-home assignments submitted after the final due date will accrue a late penalty of 10% per calendar day (including weekends and public holidays) of the marks available for the assessment item.
Field notebook
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Notebook/ Logbook
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
12/08/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L05, L06, L07, L09, L10, L11
Task description
A daily log of field activities, observations, and illustrations must be kept in a notebook-style field notebook.
The notebook does not have to be a set length or size but it must have at least one entry for every day of fieldwork and must contain the following information:
• Date
• Page number
• Location/Name of investigation
Other conditions (weather, lighting, wind, rain)
• Crew chief and co-workers
• Your assignment/s for the day
• Kind of major activity (planning, survey, site recording, excavation, etc.)
• Kind of minor activity (drawing sections, features, etc.)
• Reasons for these activities;
• Interpretation of features, artefacts, stratigraphy etc
• How you specifically spent the day – ongoing activities and things you learned
• Any problems you encountered and proposed solutions
The field notebook should be detailed and enriched with well-labelled illustrations, sketch maps, coordinates, descriptions and/or sketches of artefacts, relevant musings, etc. Refer to the Notebook Marking Criteria for more detail.
At the completion of the field notebook I would like you to consider the following reflective questions that will be incorporated into the assessment of the field notebook. Please keep to 100 words per answer.
1. How did your content knowledge change as a result of being part of the field school?
2. How did your procedural knowledge change as a result of being part of the field school?
3. How did your dispositional knowledge change as a result of being part of the field school?
4. What's something you will do differently as a result of having attended the field school?
5. What piece of advice would you give to a student doing the field school in 2024?
Submission guidelines
The field notebook will be submitted to the Social Science Students Enquiries counter, level 3, 343 Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus, no later than 2pm on the due date or any time prior to this.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Papers and take-home assignments submitted after the final due date will accrue a late penalty of 10% per calendar day (including weekends and public holidays) of the marks available for the assessment item.
Archaeological site report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
30/08/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L08, L10
Task description
You must produce an archaeological site report that consoldiates key information gained during fieldwork into a concise summary and discusses in particular a specific site that you recorded (3000 words maximum). The report shoud explicitly show how the fieldwork you did and the site you recorded linked into the larger research project. The report should make a clear statement on scientific significance with general comments on cultural significance. The report should be used to make recommendations for future research and provide recommendations for site management, which could also include a consideration as to whether the area should be considered for National Heritage Listing. In adition to your description of the site and its significance assessment, you should include a research background component that contextualises your report in teh available literature. Ensure that you go to teh original sources for this content.
The report must contain the following information.
- Title page
- Table of contents
- Abstract with results clearly defined
- Introduction to the research project and work undertaken, contextualised within the larger project agenda
- Environemental/geographical context, including a map
- Background/previous work
- Methods, including justification (i.e. what you did an why)
- Results, primarily including a plan of the site you recorded
- Discussion of results and statement of significance of the site
- Summary and recommendations for future research and site conservation - consideration of listing for National Heritage
- References
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to http://learn.uq.edu.au/ with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted. Turnitin links will be configured to permit early submission of assessment items. Students will have the opportunity to submit draft assignments to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment in order to review similarity index content and to improve academic writing practice in accordance with UQ Academic Integrity policies. By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. Please note that on the preview page, your assignment will be shown without formatting. Your assignment will retain formatting and your coordinator/tutor will be able to see formatted assignments. Once you have submitted your assignment you are able to go back and view your submission with the correct formatting. You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted, please submit again. If you are unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you need to apply for an extension.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
Papers and take-home assignments submitted after the final due date will accrue a late penalty of 10% per calendar day (including weekends and public holidays) of the marks available for the assessment item.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Can carry out almost no basic survey tasks. Can barely operate on survey or on site, and only under close supervision - does not learn from mistakes. Understands only a few equipment functions and does not understand the principles behind them. Shows ability to record only random and incomplete archaeological data in the field. Does not demonstrate understanding of fieldwork linked to research and reporting goals. Reports field data in no detail and with no organisation. Achieves a combined score on all assessment of 1-29% |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Can carry out only the most basic survey tasks. Can operate minimally on survey or on site, and only under close supervision - rarely learns from mistakes. Understands some equipment functions but does not understand the principles behind them. Shows ability to record only a few kinds of archaeological data in the field. Does not demonstrate understanding of fieldwork linked to research and reporting goals. Reports some field data but almost completely lacks detail, organisation, or research background. Achieves a combined score on all assessment of 30-44% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Can carry out a few basic survey tasks. Can operate on survey or on site, but only under close supervision - sometimes learns from mistakes. Understands some equipment functions but does not understand the principles behind them. Shows ability to record only a few kinds of archaeological data in the field. Does not demonstrate understanding of fieldwork linked to research and reporting goals. Reports some field data but almost completely lacks detail, organisation, or research background Achieves a combined score on all assessment of 45-49% |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Can carry out many basic survey tasks. Can operate under close supervision on survey or on site - frequently learns from mistakes. Understands some equipment functions but lacks clarity on their application. Shows ability to record many kinds of archaeological data in the field but is inconsistent and does not demonstrate understanding of rationale. Does not demonstrate understanding of fieldwork linked to research and reporting goals. Reports field data but with little detail, organisation, or research background. Achieves a combined score on all assessment of 50-64% |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Can carry out most basic survey tasks. Can operate under supervision on survey or on site - usually learns from mistakes. Understands many equipment functions but lacks clarity on their application. Shows ability to record most kinds of archaeological data in the field but can be inconsistent. Can understand research and reporting goals but does not demonstrate understanding of linkages with fieldwork. Reports field data but with variable detail, organisation, or research background. Achieves a combined score on all assessment of 65-74% |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Can carry out most survey tasks. Can operate well under supervision and with some independence on survey or on site - almost always learns from mistakes. Understands how others solve practical field problems. Thinks critically about actions and understands most equipment functions. Shows organisation and ability to record most key archaeological data in the field. Can integrate field goals with research and reporting goals. Reports field data in a clear way that is generally contextualised with background research. Achieves a combined score on all assessment of 75-84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Can carry out all survey tasks. Can operate independently on survey or on site independently or with minimal supervision - almost always learns from mistakes and improves through own initiative. Has a demonstrated ability to solve practical field problems. Thinks critically about actions and understands the limitations of different field situations and equipment functions. Shows organisation, attention to detail, and ability to record key archaeological data in the field for optimal reporting. Seamlessly integrates field goals with research and reporting goals. Reports field data in a clear way that is well-contextualised with background research. Achieves a combined score on all assessment of 85-100% |
Additional course grading information
The course cannot be passed if one or more of the pieces of assessment is missing.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is not available for this course, regardless of the final grade achieved for the course.
Additional assessment information
Participation: Participation in the fieldwork is an essential component of this course. Excepting medical or physical complications, students are expected to be able to physically carry out the assigned fieldwork. Exceptions can be made via prior arrangement with the course coordinator or if a medical situation develops in the field. In these cases, labwork may be substituted for fieldwork or a waiver may be given, and the student may still obtain participation credit. These arrangements will only be made in exceptional circumstances.
Field Notebooks: As the recording systems used at each site are different the field notebook requirements will be made clear in the field.
Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Tutorial: https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
Assignment Writing Guide: The School of Social Science Assignment Writing Guide can be accessed via the School of Social Science website here: EssayWritingGuide_SocSci_2021.pdf (uq.edu.au)
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The Marks and feedback for the final assessment item are to only be made available to the student on Grade Release Day at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/academic-progress-and-final-results/querying-result.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
ﾠ
Bowdler, S. 2009. Mollusks and other shells. Archaeology in practice: a student guide to archaeological analyses, 316-337.
Knuckey, G. 1999. A shell midden at Clybucca, near Kempsey, New South Wales. Australian Archaeology. 48 (1). 1-10.ﾠ
Sullivan, M.E. and Hughes, P.J. 1982. The Stuart Point shell midden complex: an assessment of its nature, extent and significance. Australian Archaeology. 15 (1) 27-34.
ﾠ
ﾠ
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Seminar |
Course Introduction & Survey and Mapping Friday, 10 May 2024, 3:00PM - 6:00PM, Archaeology Lab (325), Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus. Welcome to the course. Field school background. Logistics and what to bring Introduction to the Clybucca and Stuart Point midden complex Landscape archaeology and midden analysis Working with Aboriginal communities. Students will learn how to survey and draw site plans of a structure in preparation for field work during the field school and site report work for the final assessment. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Seminar |
Fieldwork basics Friday, 31 May 2024, 12:00PM - 3:00PM, Archaeology Lab (325), Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus. Professional practice in archaeology. A core function of this workshop will be to establish a code of conduct relating to the field work. Students will need to read 3.60.01 Student Code of Conduct in preparation of the workshop and complete UQ workplace inductions and OHS training OHSB0000N_0000_00000 for this workshop. In addition UQ Respect: sexual consent, ethical bystanding and compassionate response will need to be completed and you will need to take a screen shot as evidence of completing this training and email this to A/Prof Westaway. Learning outcomes: L01, L11 |
|
Fieldwork |
Archaeological field work On-going survey of archaeological sites including Clybucca 3 midden, Goldern Hole, Stuarts Point 1 and remapping of Andersons Inlet and Clybucca Creek cultural landscape. Geophysical survey of Clybucca 3 and other identified sites of significance. The survey and mapping of these areas will be the foundation of the site report exercise. On-going instruction on survey and completing field notebooks. Introduction to midden and artefact analysis. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
|
Fieldwork |
Camp ground and site orientation Introduction to survey area and consideration of principles of landscape archaeology. Introduction to the nature of the archaeological record with overview of lithic identification and recording midden sites. Visit the Golden Hole site and welcome from Aboriginal Traditional Owners Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L09 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.