James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

AR2405:04

Rock Art Field School

Townsville, Cairns

Prerequisites: 12 units of level 1 subjects
Inadmissable Subject Combination: AR3124 AR3405 AY2030 AY3030 AY5030

40 hours fieldwork. July intensive block mode. This subject will only run if the minimum enrolment of 15 is reached.

Staff:

Dr J Campbell, Dr A Watchman.

The Rock Art Field School provides students with an introduction to the survey and recording of rock art sites and their context. The subject will be concerned with the values and significance of rock art studies to archaeological research and to indigenous peoples, the ethics and practice of rock art recording and publication and the various methods of recording rock art motifs. Practical exercises, conducted at a number of actual rock art sites, will include discussion of appropriate fieldwork approaches, survey techniques, ethical considerations and constraints.

This subject will involve additional costs to cover field trip expenses.

Learning Objectives:

  1. provide students with the basic skills required to record rock art sites;
  2. develop an appreciation of the indigenous and archaeological values of rock art sites;
  3. develop an awareness of the ethical and practical issues that must be addressed in rock art research.

Assessment by participation in fieldwork exercises (20%); written field report (80%).