Training and Site Management Master Classes

The Master Classes are designed to improve skills in:
• Archaeological Field Techniques – Excavation, Surveying, Research
• Cultural Heritage – theory and international context
• Archaeological site management – incl. writing Management Plans and Nomination Files for World Heritage Sites
• Archaeological & standing building recording
• Artefact conservation & storage
• Conservation Planning – theory and conservation plans, condition assessments
• Ceramic and finds recording & analysis
• Environmental Archaeology
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Surveying and Geophysical prospecting
• Photography (including digital photography)
• Interpretation & education – Interpretation, Exhibition Design, Education Strategies.
• Sustainable tourism – visitor surveys, tourism planning,

For Whom?
The Master Classes are aimed at Archaeologists, Heritage Managers, Archaeological Park Staff, Governmental Organisations, University staff and students, and more.

How?
The Master Classes combine theory with real practical outcomes. This often means that courses will be taught in a classroom (making use of a wide range of supporting materials), which will then be followed up by fieldwork on an archaeological site or museum. The Master Classes can consist of:

1. Major residential training courses on site
A number of fieldwork training courses (lasting between 1-6 weeks) focusing on specific issues of conservation, site management, recording, interpretation, and documentation. These would be supervised by our Principal Consultants, developing specific skills and approaches, while practically achieving substantial advances in the management, documentation and conservation of the resource. These will be linked to the provision of short-courses (below) and training materials.

2. Seminars and short-courses
Short-courses – international experts providing focused short-courses (1 to 4 weeks in duration) developing core skills. Supported by translated key learning resources.

3. Work Programmes
Developing individual work programmes, with specific practical outcomes, managed locally but supported by appropriate visits from our specialists.

Read more about the Centre for Applied Archaeology

Principal consultants:
• Dr. Dominic Perring: Project Management and Field Techniques
• Mr. Mike Corbishley: Education and Outreach (Institute of Archaeology, University College London);
• Mr. Tim Williams: Site Management and Interpretation (Institute of Archaeology, University College London);
• Prof. Henry Cleere: Archaeological Heritage Consultant, Site Management and WHS designation (Institute of Archaeology, University College London), and;
• Mr. Chris Hudson: Museum Design and Interpretive Planning

Supporting Staff:
• Louise Rayner: Post-excavation and publicatiion and training courses
• Josie Murray: Management, Environmental Assessments, Building conservation, town-planning.
• Richard James: Condition Assessment, desk-top survey, landscape characterisation.
• Mark Tibble: Geomatic and Geophysical survey.
• Sjoerd van der Linde: Site management and interpretation.

Example of master classes at Ancient Merv in Turkmenistan.

A three week training programme was undertaken at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Merv Archaeological Park, between the 13th and the 30th of June in 2005. This work was generously funded and enabled by a grant from The Kaplan Foundation, with the support and administration of the World Monuments Fund. The programme was attended by staff from the State Archaeological Parks, from all over Turkmenistan, to work together at Merv, developing skills in digital photography, archaeological recording, documentation and management planning.

Participants of the Master Classes at the World Heritage Site of Ancient Merv in Turkmenistan.

The Master Classes consisted of two courses:
Course 1: Ethics, philosophy and approaches to the management of Cultural Heritage sites . A one-week course aimed at a broad audience from a range of Archaeological Parks across Turkmenistan.
Course 2: Approaches to documentation of Cultural Heritage sites. A two week course primarily aimed at the Merv Park Staff, but also attended by some staff from other Archaeological Parks.