PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Learn the fundamentals of zooarchaeology, taphonomy, and palaeoecology.
Students receive training in laboratory analysis of faunal remains. Lectures and hands-on activities introduce comparative osteology of African fauna and train students to identify taphonomic modifications that document the processes affecting animal remains. Following the training phase, students assist with the analysis of faunal assemblages excavated from Middle and Later Stone Age sites at Pinnacle Point and Knysna Eastern Head, working under the direction of Patrick Fahey. Additionally, students will learn how to process and accession comparative skeletal material, participate in butchery experiments, receive an introduction to modeling approaches in archaeology, and learn the basics of analyzing data using R.

Skills learned:

• Identify faunal remains to skeletal element and taxon

• Identify and interpret taphonomic modifications

• Collect and manage zooarchaeological data using databases

• Analyze data in R and present results

Visit regional Stone Age archaeological sites.

Students participate in guided field trips to key local sites, including the Pinnacle Point Archaeological Complex and the Knysna Eastern Head caves, led by the site directors themselves. These visits provide first-hand experience in reading ancient landscapes, understanding site formation processes and depositional histories, and learning how excavations are conducted.

Experience the southern Cape.
Students may also participate in optional excursions throughout the Garden Route, including hikes to see the diverse modern environments, as well as visits to nearby towns and regional attractions.