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

Investigate a maritime site 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119875  Investigate a maritime site 
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 4  NQF Level 04  5 
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
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 assistants on maritime archaeological sites or as laboratory assistants in maritime museums or in universities. It may also be useful for learners in maritime or salvage organisations and recreational divers.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Describing different vessel types.
  • Mapping an underwater site.
  • Excavating an underwater site.
  • Handling and conserving underwater features and artefacts. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is recommended that learners are competent in Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 3. It is assumed that learners can swim and that they have a diving qualification from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water I for recreational divers and Advanced Open Water II for professional divers or Scuba Diver or Advanced Scuba Diver from the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This Unit Standard is for learners working under supervision as assistants on maritime sites. Limitations of the following diving qualifications apply:
  • Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
    > Open Water I (for recreational divers) to 18 metres
    > Advanced Open Water II (for professional divers) to 30 metres
    Or
  • National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI)
    > Scuba Diver to 18 metres
    > Advanced Scuba Diver to 30 metres 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe different vessel types. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The construction of a wreck is used to infer information about the period, cargo and potential artefacts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Different types of vessel are identified using key features of the ship. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Methods of dating wrecks are explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The circumstances relating to how the ship was wrecked are reconstructed from observation of the vessel. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Maritime excavation terminology is used correctly in context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Terminology includes, but is not limited to, bow, hull, superstructure,deck, stern, tort, starboard, forward, rudder, anchor, keel, sailing vessels and techniques used in shipbuilding.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Map an underwater site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Procedures for locating wrecks are explained and a potential site is explored for evidence of a wreck. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    An underwater grid is set up from a fixed point. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The position of a wreck is fixed using Global Positioning System (GPS). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Features of a wreck are drawn and mapped according to the grid. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Issues relating to ownership, ethics and permits are discussed with reference to a specific maritime site. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Issues include, but are not limited to the Natural Heritage Resources Act and Environmental Legislation.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Excavate an underwater site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Excavation equipment used on an underwater site is identified and named and an indication is given of the use and associated risks. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The basic principles of 3-D measurement are explained and demonstrated on a maritime site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Artefacts are labeled underwater to record context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Different ways of recording artefacts and underwater features are explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Techniques used to expose a find are demonstrated using the appropriate equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Risks associated with excavating underwater wrecks are identified with reference to context and cargo. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Handle and conserve underwater artefacts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The principles applied to the conservation of waterlogged material are explained and an indication is given of why underwater artefacts are handled differently from those found on land. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The process used in retrieving maritime artefacts is demonstrated on a wreck site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The process of conserving maritime artefacts is described for different materials. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Processes include, but are not limited to, glass, ceramics, bone, shells and other organic materials, paper, leather, wood, metal and stone.
     


    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, as diving should be a team activity. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    The learner is able to organise and manage him/herself and his/her activities responsibly and effectively in labelling artefacts underwater. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner is able to collect, evaluate and organise information in mapping an underwater site. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner is able to communicate effectively in using appropriate terminology to discuss a maritime site. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    The learner is able to use science and technology effectively in using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to fix the position of a wreck. 

    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; maritime site; shipwrecks; diving, heritage. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  57712   Further Education and Training Certificate: Generic Management  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    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.