KAFR HASSAN DAWOOD On-Line
THE UNESCO TRAINING PROGRAMME
|
The main objective of the UNESCO World Heritage Fund training programme was to provide on-site acquisition of archaeological skill and experience in the course of a “real” archaeological project. This unique opportunity was made possible by the collaboration of several institutions and a vision of training that is not limited to contact between instructors and trainees in a classroom situation away from site, or at a location where they attend and leave.
The training programme consisted of three parts. In Part I, the trainees were introduced to the fundamentals of surveying, mapping, surface collection, geophysical techniques, and excavation. In part II, they attend lectures in a Lecture Hall at the site equipped with an overhead projector, a slide projector, and a white board. In the Third Part, the students, having gained specialized information in specific subjects were equipped to go back to the site to apply their newly acquired knowledge where they were guided by the tutors. The objectives also included providing the students with a tool kit, which they kept, after the completion of the training programme. They were also provided by hand-outs and technical modules. In the field, work also continued on the preparation of ‘An Archaeology Field Guide’ in Arabic. The field guide is extracted from a larger work now in preparation by Prof. Hassan and G. J. Tassie. It was also emphasized throughout the programme the importance of international conventions for the protection of world archaeological heritage and methods of cultural heritage management. Specific attention was paid to the scope, role and mechanics of the World Heritage Convention. The details of the training programme are as follows: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE FUND TRAINING PROGRAMME 1998/9 KAFR HASSAN DAWOOD, EAST DELTA, EGYPT PART 1 FIELD METHODOLOGY I Instructors: Staff Fundamentals of Excavation methods Basic Concepts Grid Operation Locus/Context Lot Level Feature Artefact Special Finds Stratum, Strata, Stratification Mapping Drawing Sections Drawing Plans Identification of Sediments Microstratigraphy PART II TRAINING PROGRAMME LECTURES Instructional Schedule 10:00-12:00 AM 13:00-15:00 PM THEME 1 Instructor: Prof. Fekri A. Hassan Archaeological Excavations and Surveying Objectives Sites and Society From Settlements to Sites Organizing Archaeological Expeditions THEME 2 Instructor: Prof. Fekri A. Hassan Cultural Heritage Management UNESCO 1970 & 72 World Cultural Heritage Conventions (Scope, role, mechanisms) 1995 UNIDROIT Convention Recommendation on International Principles Applicable to Archaeological Excavations THEME 3 Instructor: Dr. M. Abdel Rahman Surveying Introduction to topographic maps Establishing a datum and levelling Surveying Equipment The Brunton Compass The Automatic Level The Transit/Theodolite The Alidade Global Positioning System (GPS) THEME 4 Instructor: Dr. Hala Barakat Environmental Archaeology Plants in archaeological sites Field recovery of plant remains Seeds and Fruits Wood Phytoliths and other plant remains Climate and Vegetation THEME 5 Instructors: Prof. Simon Hillson and Dr. Teri L. Tucker Excavation and Field Study of Human Skeletal Remains Bioarchaeology Bones of the human skeleton Determination of sex and age Evidence of accidents, disease, deformities, and work-related anomalies Teeth THEME 6 Instructor: Ashraf El-Senoussi Field Description and Analysis of Pottery Methods of manufacture Attribute Analysis Colour Temper Surface Decoration Pottery and Society (Gender, Social Organization) Seriation Residues Design Analysis THEME 7 Instructor: Amanda Sutherland Field Conservation in Archaeology Causes of decay and deterioration of artefacts Post-excavation environment and deterioration Assessment of the condition of artefacts Description of the condition of artefacts Mending Equipment Stabilization and Consolidation Lifting and Recovery in the Field Packing and Removal THEME 8 Instructor: Ken Walton Field Photography in Archaeology Equipment Taking Pictures Film types Shutter speed Aperture Depth of Field The Photographic Log Special Tasks Excavations Stratigraphic Profiles Panoramas Objects Studio Lighting Recent Advances in Field Photography (Digital Photography) THEME 9 Instructor: Professor Adel Yehia Remote Sensing and Space Archaeology Aerial Photographs Mosaics Satellite Images Satellite Imaging Radar Image Processing THEME 10 Instructor: Professor Adel Yehia Geographic Information Systems (GIS) PART III FIELD METHODOLOGY II (Staff) Archives Curation Preparation of Report Drafting Photocopy Typing Editing Production  Figure 30. The northern area of excavations at KHD looking north with site photographer Ken Walton in the centre of the photgraph.  Figure 31. Panoramic view of the site looking West.  Figure 32. A misty dawn start to work, the site of KHD looking East from the roof of the Excavation centre.  Figure 33. View of the southern part of the Western Cemetery looking South.  Figure 34. Northern wing of the Field Archaeology Research and Training Centre  Figure 35. View of the excavated southern part of the Western Cemetery looking West. Acknowledgements The 1998/9, UNESCO Training Programme could not have been achieved without Professor Gaballa A. Gaballa’s determination and personal interest in developing a training programme to safeguard Egyptian cultural resources. His directives and frequent interventions, including a visit to the site, have been effective in facilitating our task. We are also indebted to Dr. M. Abdel- Maksoud, who was enthusiastic and supportive of the project. His frequent visits to the site and intimate knowledge of the threats to Egyptian cultural heritage, and his efforts to minimise bureaucratic entanglements are most appreciated. We are also thankful and grateful to Professor Peter Ucko, Director of the Institute of Archaeology, UCL, who has a keen interest in the protection and management of the world’s cultural heritage, and who has been instrumental in encouraging the active participation of the staff and students from the Institute of Archaeology in the current project. We are also thankful to Prof. Adel Yehia for logistic support and for making available the resources of his prestigious scientific institution, the Egyptian National Remote Sensing Centre and Space Sciences. The training project was first discussed with Mr. L. Lévi-Strauss, and we are most grateful for welcoming our initiative. We are also most grateful to Dr. Georges S. Zouain, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, for advice and support. We are especially grateful to the National Geographic Society, the Institute of Archaeology, and the Bioanthropology Foundation for financial support. We are also grateful to the training staff for their patience and enthusiastic dedication under difficult field conditions. We are also appreciative and heartened by the great interest and willingness to learn. |
| All material © Copyright of Fekri A. Hassan 2003. |  |
| Last Updated: 17th August 2003 |