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

Demonstrate knowledge of Stone Age archaeology 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119877  Demonstrate knowledge of Stone Age archaeology 
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  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
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 to allow for specialisation for learners who work as field assistants on archaeological sites or as laboratory assistants in museums or universities. It should allow learners to engage with issues and to understand the finer details of Stone Age sites thereby becoming better excavators. It should be useful for recreational archaeologists and learners on excavation sites who assist with excavations following set procedures and who do not have formal qualifications.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Outlining the history of Stone Age studies in Southern Africa.
  • Classifying Stone Age artefacts.
  • Explaining how lifeways are interpreted from Stone Age sites.
  • Placing the Stone Age in a world context. 
    		•

    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. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This Unit Standard is for learners working under supervision as assistants on Stone Age sites. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Outline the history of Stone Age studies in Southern Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The stages and industries of the Stone Age are discussed using appropriate terminology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Technological advances that have impacted on knowledge of the Stone Age are identified with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Technological advances include, but are not limited to, radio carbon dating, optically stimulated luminescence dating, isotope analysis, thermoluminesence, paleo-magnetism, relative dating, palynology and DNA.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Archaeologists who have contributed to knowledge of the Stone Age in Southern Africa are identified with reference to the sites that they have excavated and what they contributed to knowledge of the Stone Age. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Classify Stone Age artefacts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The classification of lithic and non-lithic tools is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The evolution of tool making techniques is described for different raw materials. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Tool making techniques include, but are not limited to, hard and soft hammer, prepared cores, hafting and punch technique.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Techniques used to analyse stone tools are explained with examples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Explain how lifeways are interpreted from Stone Age sites. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Features of a Stone Age site are analysed to reconstruct activities at the site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Materials commonly sampled by archaeologists are identified in terms of their potential to aid reconstruction of past environments and seasonality. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Changes in resources and their exploitation are inferred from tools and food remains. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The remains on a hunter gatherer site are compared to the remains on a herder site. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Artefacts and features that provide evidence of belief systems are identified with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Belief systems include, but are not limited to, religion, and social customs.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Place the southern African Stone Age in a world context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The Stone Age sequence is investigated with reference to the movement of people in Southern Africa and the world. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of Southern African Stone Age sites is discussed with reference to the spread of technology and human evolution. 


    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 can work effectively with others as a member of a team in recording a rock art site. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner is able to collect, evaluate and organise information in compiling a condition report and recording a rock art site. 

    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
  • Stone Age; heritage; archaeology; pre history, 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 
    Elective  71549   Further Education and Training Certificate: Tourist Guiding  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  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.