SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Investigate key aspects of the human past in Southern Africa 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119871  Investigate key aspects of the human past in Southern Africa 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Archaeology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies Traditions, History and Legacies 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended for learners who work as field or laboratory assistants on a regular basis as part of an archaeological team. It may also be useful for learners in museums who do not have formal qualifications and learners on excavation sites who assist with excavations following set procedures.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Describing the major archaeological periods in Southern Africa.
  • Identifying key species in human evolution and their chronology.
  • Investigating an excavated archaeological site. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is recommended that learners are competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 2. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Excavated archaeological sites within Southern Africa. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe the major archaeological periods in South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The major sub-divisions, artefacts and life ways of the archaeological periods are described in chronological order. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Stone Age, Iron Age, Colonial and subsequent periods.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Different ways of dating archaeological material are named with reference to appropriate material and time range. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Current debates around terminology are explained within the southern African context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Contested terminology includes, but is not limited to, San, Khoisan, Iron Age, hunter gathers, farmers, herders and Bantu speaking people.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify key species in human evolution and their chronology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Key species in human evolution and the sites where they have been found are named and presented graphically. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Circumstances under which human bones become fossilised are explained with examples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Investigate an excavated archaeological site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An excavated site is investigated in terms of evidence found at the site and how it is interpreted by archaeologists. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Indigenous knowledge systems are investigated for a selected site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The relationship between the selected site and other sites in the southern African region is outlined in terms of their historical and cultural context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The information is presented to a group. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The contribution of a selected site to our knowledge of the past is discussed with reference to the recovered information. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a candidate against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or ETQA where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA or ETQA where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner is able to collect, organise and critically evaluate information in researching an archaeological site. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner is able to communicate effectively in researching and presenting information on an archaeological site. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    The learner is able to use technology effectively in using electronic media for research. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Search words:

    Pre history; archaeology; human evolution; indigenous knowledge systems, heritage. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  49772   National Certificate: Archaeology  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2012-06-30  CATHSSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.