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

Identify evidence of past human activity 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119872  Identify evidence of past human activity 
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 2  NQF Level 02  10 
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:
  • Identifying archaeological materials.
  • Classifying archaeological materials.
  • Identifying an archaeological site.
  • Explaining the importance of context in archaeology. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is recommended that learners are competent in Communication at Level 1. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Evidence found in Southern Africa. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify archaeological materials. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concept of an artefact is explained with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Artefacts include, but are not limited to: stone, shell, metal and slag, bone, plant remains, ceramics and glass.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The concept of an archaeological feature is explained with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Features include, but are not limited to: hearths, dwellings, floors, middens, cattle kraals, byres, walls, graves, kilns, furnaces, forges, wreck, structures, rock paintings and engravings.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Classify archaeological materials. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Stone Age artefacts are identified and classified according to material and technique. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Artefacts include, but are not limited to: stone, polished bone, shell, beads and ceramics.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Iron Age materials are sorted and categorised according to material and purpose. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Materials include, but are not limited to: glass, metal, stone, ceramics, bone, beads, slag and shell.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Materials found on a Colonial site are sorted and categorised according to type and possible use. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Materials include, but are not limited to: buckles, bottles, glass, buttons, shell, plant remains, bone porcelain and ceramics.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Food remains are sorted and categorised into shell, plant and bone remains. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    A set of bones is sorted into human and animal remains. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Large long bones and cranial remains of the human body are identified and named correctly. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Identify an archaeological site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Geographical features in a landscape are identified and an indication is given of the archaeological materials that are most commonly associated with each feature. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Features include, but are not limited to: overhanging rocks, caves, rivers, hilltops, sources of raw material and rocky outcrops.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Knowledge of archaeological materials is applied to identify a potential archaeological site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Factors that result in preservation or distribution of artefacts or features are explained with reference to a specific site. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Explain the importance of context in archaeology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concept of context is explained in relation to a site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Reasons why artefacts are found in a specific place are explained with reference to use of the site and the artefact. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Relationships between geographic features and artefacts are explained for a specific site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The importance of retaining context until it has been recorded is explained for a specific site. 


    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 WORKING 
    The learner is able to work effectively with others as a member of a team, in participating in the activities on an archaeological site. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    The learner is able to organise and manage him/herself and his/her own activities responsibly and effectively in classifying archaeological material. 

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

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner is able to communicate effectively in explaining the importance of context in archaeology. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The learner is able to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems in explaining the relationship between artefacts and geological features. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    The learner is able to participate as a responsible citizen in explaining the importance of retaining context until it has been recorded. 

    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; artefacts; pre-history; archaeological site, 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.