COARS will be hosting a three day training event at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton between the 13th and 15th January 2015. The event will focus on providing knowledge, skills and practical experience in marine geoarchaeology, in relation to offshore geotechnical investigations, to national and local curators, and those working in, and engaging with, the wider archaeological sector.
With the rapid expansion of coastal and offshore infrastructure projects there have been extensive geotechnical and environmental sampling survey programmes conducted by developers, such as offshore wind farm proposals, cable installation projects and port expansion developments. The large volume of material generated has a wide range of applications for interpreting the archaeological record. At present there is an acknowledged paucity of practitioners entering commercial and / or local government associations with sufficient knowledge in marine geoarchaeology to meet the growing requirement.
To address this skills gap COARS has been commissioned by English Heritage to deliver a training course and discussion meeting, held over three consecutive days, to specifically develop knowledge, skills and practical experience in marine geoarchaeology in relation to offshore geotechnical investigations. The course will involve a series of lecture, computer and laboratory-based sessions that will provide attendees with sufficient knowledge to recognise the nature and archaeological potential of offshore deposits. The course is aimed at national and local curators, and those working in the wider archaeological sector.
The three day event will consist of two components:
- A two day Continuing Professional Development (CPD; 13th and 14th January 2015)) course consisting of a series of lecture, computer and laboratory-based sessions that will provide attendees with sufficient knowledge in order to identify the nature and archaeological potential of offshore deposits and make informed decisions over project designs.
- A one day discussion meeting (15th January) entitled ‘Dating of Marine Sediments for Archaeological Purposes’. A series of dating technique specialist will be attendance to stimulate discussions on developing best practice and advancing methodologies.
To book a place on this course please visit the University of Southampton Online Store
Two day Continuing Professional Development course outline, aims and learning outcomes.
Outline Course Content
- Introduction: why coastal and marine geotechnical surveys are conducted, how they are planned and archaeological purpose;
- Using geophysical surveys to optimise palaeolandscape analysis and implications for geotechnical survey planning;
- Survey planning and determining sampling resolution / methodology. Identifying project aims and determining environmental / archaeological potential at the project outset;
- Techniques employed in geotechnical survey (e.g. vibrocores, boreholes) and other benthic sampling techniques (e.g. grab samples) suitable for geoarchaeological analysis;
- The principles employed in handling geotechnical material;
- Sediment description, interpretation and laboratory core analysis techniques;
- Identifying geotechnical potential: introduction to deposit modelling;
- Palaeoenvironmental techniques – developing a palaeoenvironmental sampling strategy;
- Geochronology – developing a dating strategy;
- Data synthesis, identifying analysis potential, and determining impact and mitigation strategies.
Course Aims
- To provide an introduction to the geotechnical sampling techniques and methodologies that support marine geoarchaeological analysis and interpretation
- To develop practical experience and understanding of processing geotechnical material and the selection of suitable analytical techniques to support historic environment analysis
- Explain how geoarchaeological reports should effectively identify risk and inform the selection of viable mitigation strategies
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course each attendee should be able to:
- Understand the purpose of a geotechnical survey and the importance of Geoarchaeology
- Have familiarity with key techniques used to obtain geotechnical and environmental data.
- Make informed decisions over survey design and selection of geotechnical sampling techniques for geoarchaeological purposes.
- Understand the correct procedures for the handling, storage and recording of geotechnical material.
- Familiarity with the potential for data integration and modelling based work.
- Ability to select suitable palaeoenvironmental and chronometric techniques based upon material type.
Course Fees
The course fee is £380 (inc. VAT) and includes all refreshments, lunches, consumables and instruction over the two days, as well as including attendance at the third day discussion meeting.