Training Workshop on Materials Microanalysis and Dating for Rock Art Studies
28th September – 5th October 2008
Clanwilliam, South Africa
This training workshop on materials microanalysis and dating techniques applied to rock art was the second of the “GDRI-STAR Training Workshops Series”. It was jointly organised by GDRI-STAR and the ARCUS Île-de-France/South Africa “Art rupestre” programme and took place in Clanwilliam (Western Cape, South Africa).
The training workshop aimed at graduate students and post-docs, museum staff and heritage practitioners. It aimed to enhance understanding of rock art pigments analyses and dating techniques. The training workshop comprised lectures, on site demonstrations, discussions and practical exercises. It provided an introduction to those materials microanalysis and dating techniques that are used in rock art studies and it gave participants the means to evaluate the techniques currently on offer and know how they can be used in the study of rock art. Specialists from southern Africa and France demonstrated a wide range of materials microanalysis and dating techniques applicable to rock art studies, with a strong focus on portable and non-destructive equipments.
The training sessions were divided into: - Basics in materials science - Rock art materials (pigments, binders) - Materials analysis applied to rock art (X-Ray, Infrared, PIXE) - On-site demonstrations with portable equipment (Raman, Spectro-colourimetry, LIBS) - Dating techniques (OSL/TL, Radiocarbon)
27 applications were received and reviewed by the scientific committee according to the following criteria: 1- is the candidate actively involved in rock art or archaeology research or heritage resource management? 2- will the training workshop impact the candidate activity in a near future? 3- is the candidate’s background appropriate for the training workshop? 4- is the applicant strongly motivated?
The attendance had to be limited to 21 students because of field work constraints and conservation requirements in rock art sites. Selected applicants (10 males and 11 females) represented 7 countries from Europe and the Southern African Development Community area (1 from Botswana, 4 from France, 1 from Mozambique, 1 from Namibia, 1 from the Netherlands, 10 from South Africa, and 3 from Zimbabwe). Unfortunately 4 people could not attend the training workshop for visa, lack of funding or health issues.
17 tutors from various fields of expertise in material microanalysis techniques and rock art also took part in the training workshop: 8 from France and 9 from South Africa.
Funding: Travel expenses of 10 participants were funded by GDRI-STAR, 7 by the ARCUS Île-de-France/South Africa “Art rupestre” programme, 2 by the French Embassy in South Africa and 1 by the French Embassy in Zimbabwe. Funding from the Palaeontological Science Trust (PAST) and GDRI-STAR also helped to cover accommodation, subsistence and travel costs of participants who had no funding of their own and applied for a grant to attend the training workshop.
Scientific content: The training workshop joined two distinct and complementary goals: 1) foster future collaborations between South Africa and France in the application of materials analytical techniques to rock art studies and 2) introduce young southern African and French archaeology students and heritage practitioners to these materials microanalysis techniques.
1) The participants visited several rock art sites in the area that could be fruitful for joint research between South African and French researchers, mostly teams from the Cape Town – Cederberg area and the Région Île-de-France. An especially promising rock art site has been identified and a research programme is currently being set up.
2) The advanced training course in materials microanalysis for rock art studies was intended for graduate students and post-docs, museum staff and heritage practitioners. The courses aimed to enhance understanding of rock art pigments analyses and dating techniques. The training workshop comprised lectures, on site demonstrations, discussions and practical exercises. It provided an introduction to those materials microanalysis and dating techniques that are used in rock art studies and it gave participants the means to evaluate the techniques currently on offer and know how they can be used in the study of rock art. Specialists from southern Africa and France presented a wide range of materials microanalysis and dating techniques applicable to rock art studies and demonstrated the use of portable and non-destructive equipments on two rock art sites during field work exercises.
The discussions and interactions during the entire training workshop, and especially on the occasion of the final round table restitution, proved extremely fruitful. Articles reporting these discussions are to be submitted to the South African Archaeological Bulletin and the Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française. General information on the event is expected to be published in the Journal du CNRS and Culture & Recherche.
A survey among the participants to evaluate their satisfaction and improve future editions of this training workshop series is under way.
Organisation: Two French-South African committees were set up for the planning and organisation of the training workshop.
A scientific committee consisting of: - Dr Loïc Bertrand (SOLEIL Synchrotron, France) - Dr Jean-Michel Geneste (Centre National de Préhistoire, France) - Dr Leon Jacobson (McGregor Museum, South Africa) - Dr Michel Menu (Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, France) - Mr Siyakha Mguni (Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve/University of Cape Town, South Africa) - Prof. John Parkington (Archaeology Dept., University of Cape Town, South Africa) - Dr Ben Smith (Rock Art Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) - Dr Hélène Valladas (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environement, France)
And an organising committee: - Dr Loïc Bertrand (Synchrotron SOLEIL, Gif-sur-Yvette, France) - Dr Stéphane Hœrlé (Synchrotron SOLEIL, Gif-sur-Yvette, France) - Mr Siyakha Mguni (Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve/University of Cape Town, South Africa) - Prof. John Parkington (Department of Archaeology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa)
