National Archaeology Week aims to increase public awareness of Australian archaeology and the work of Australian archaeologists both at home and abroad, and to promote the importance of protecting Australia’s unique archaeological heritage. Held in the third week of May, this exciting nationwide program of events and activities includes public lectures, seminars, exhibits, demonstration, excavations and displays around the country.
To help celebrate the event, the University of New England’s student-run Archaeology Society invites you to two on-campus events that will be free and open to the public.
The first of the events will be held on Thursday, 21st of May. UNE’s Dr Mark Moore, Seniour Lecturer in Archaeology, will be demonstrating the art of stone flaking, known as ‘flint knapping’. This is an ancient technology, practiced by our ancestors as far back as 2.5 million years ago and employed up to historic times, including by Armidale’s historic stone masons. Starting with a rough piece of raw stone, Dr. Moore will demonstrate how various flaking techniques are used to shape stone into refined cutting tools such as spear-heads, arrow tips, knifes, daggers, and axes. Dr. Moore has experience replicating stone tools made by Native Americans, Indigenous Australians, European Neanderthals, and the Indonesian Homo floresiensis (aka the ‘Hobbit’).
The second event will be held on Friday, 22nd of May. UNE’s Professor Lloyd Weeks, Head of the School of Humanities, will talk about his team’s ongoing archaeological work at the site of Saruq al-Hadid in the United Arab Emirates. The site is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the country, and was a focus for Iron Age copper smelting and metal tool production in the region between 900-600 BC. Professor Weeks has worked on archaeology of the greater Persian Gulf, with a focus on prehistoric and proto-historic Arabia, as well as ancient metal production and exchange systems.
Stone flaking demonstration.
Presented by Dr. Mark Moore, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology (UNE)
Thursday 21st of May, 3pm
UNE Knapping Pit, near C02 Earth Sciences (Geology and Geophysics) Building, University of New England
The demonstration will be followed by a BBQ.
The Archaeology of Saruq al-Hadid, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Presented by Professor Lloyd Weeks, Head of School of Humanities (UNE).
Friday 22nd of May, 11:30am
EM2 Large Lecture Theatre, W55 Ecosystems Management (Natural Resources) Building, University of New England.
The talk will be followed by morning tea.
Both events are free and open to all members of the public. Gold coin donations are welcome for the catering.
For more information visit http://archaeologyweek.com/?event-venue=university-of-new-england and http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/3058198/academics-dig-in-for-archaeology/ or email the UNE Archaeology Society at unearchaeologysociety@gmail.com and find the society on facebook.
