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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate ability to process and curate archaeological material in a laboratory environment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119879  Demonstrate ability to process and curate archaeological material in a laboratory environment 
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  4 
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. It may be useful for conservators.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Sorting archaeological material into sub-categories.
  • Quantifying and recording archaeological material in a laboratory situation.
  • Applying technical knowledge and skill to conserve archaeological material.
  • Explaining and applying the archiving system in a specific institution. 
    		•

    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 
    A laboratory situation may be permanent or a field laboratory. All work is under supervision. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Sort archaeological material into sub-categories. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Artefacts are sorted into sub-categories of the major archaeological classes and labeled according to instructions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of labeling artefacts accurately is explained in terms of the provenance of the artefacts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A decision is made to clean or not to clean specific artefacts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Artefacts are cleaned with due regard for conservation and research needs. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Quantify and record archaeological material in a museum or laboratory situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Artefacts are counted, weighed and recorded for a specific purpose using appropriate equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ceramics are refitted to ascertain vessel numbers with due regard for decoration, shape and provenance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Situations where it is necessary to wear gloves are identified with reference to DNA and residue studies. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply knowledge and skill to conserve archaeological material. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concepts of organic and inorganic materials are explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Threats to the conservation of organic materials are identified and an indication is given of how best to store organic materials. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Threats to metal artefacts are identified and an indication is given of how best to store metals. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The most appropriate way to store archaeological material is demonstrated for artefacts of a different size, provenance, mass and fragility. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Explain and apply the archiving system in a specific institution. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    An archaeologist or collection manager's instructions are followed exactly to conserve and archive a specific collection. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The accession system is explained and applied for a specific institution. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Artefacts are retrieved from the archive according to the procedures of a specific institution. 


    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 ORGANISING 
    The learner is able to organise and manage him/herself and his/her own activities responsibly and effectively in applying the archiving system of an institution. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner is able to collect, organise and critically evaluate information in sorting archaeological material into sub-categories. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner is able to communicate effectively in quantifying and recording archaeological material. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The learner is able to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems in understanding the consequences if instructions are not followed exactly. 

    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:

    Archaeology; conservation; archiving; museums, heritage. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  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.