ARCH3312 Rock Art Field School A

2016

4.5

1 x 2-week field trip per semester

9 units of second level ARCH topics

Topic Coordinator approval required for enrolment in this topic

ARCH3307 has been successfully completed

This field school provides a unique opportunity for students to undertake community archaeology in Australia. Students will have the chance to learn practical archaeological skills while at the same time developing other practical and personal skills necessary to conduct archaeological research with Aboriginal communities. In particular, students will focus on the recording of rock art in its wider cultural and archaeological context. The field school will involve some seminars, but will mostly be directed towards in-depth practical recording skills necessary for rock art research in an archaeological framework.

Fees will be charged to cover such things as transport, accommodation and food depending on location of the field school.

This topic aims to:

• make students aware of the range of skills necessary to accurately and appropriately record rock art in Australia

• make students aware of the unique theoretical and political issues surrounding rock art research

• help students develop the practical and personal skills necessary to conduct field research with Aboriginal people in Australia

• make students aware of the complexity of Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal relationships with rock art

• teach students how to undertake ethical and culturally appropriate fieldwork in Aboriginal communities

• give students an awareness of appropriate ways to disseminate their research findings for remote Aboriginal communities

• provide opportunities for students to learn about Aboriginal culture from Aboriginal people in appropriate spaces

On completion of this topic students will be able to:

• undertake ethical archaeological research with Aboriginal communities in Australia

• undertake a high standard of rock art recording

• demonstrate an understanding of the range of rock art recording techniques

• demonstrate an understanding of the key theoretical and political debates surrounding rock art in Australia

• demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of Aboriginal cultures and the role of rock art in these cultural systems

• return research findings to Aboriginal communities in culturally-appropriate formats