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Program Details

Conservation Practicum

When: 3-7 November 2025
Mode of delivery: In-person
Duration: 5 days
Location: Bedford Park campus
Tuition fees: $2898 (incl. GST)

This topic provides hands-on experience in the theory and methods of conservation for maritime archaeological artefacts. The course is an intensive introduction to materials science; deterioration processes in marine environments; pre-disturbance conservation surveys; in-situ conservation and stabilisation; recovery, initial storage, stabilisation and transportation of artefacts; and refers to storage and display of conserved artefacts.

Assessment

• Continuous Assessment (50%): Assessment based on contribution to fieldwork and their ability to operate successfully in a field environment.
• Conservation Condition Report (50%): This report will include an archaeological overview of the artefacts, their condition, and brief recommendations for a conservation treatment for the archaeological artefact.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this topic, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of basic conservation techniques for different classes of archaeological material;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practical and theoretical basis for making specific conservation decisions and choose between alternative options responsibly; and
• Conduct basic conservation surveys in a field necessary for effective management of sites.

Credit

Participants who complete the assessments are supplied with a Certificate of Achievement, which states that the course is equivalent to a 4.5 unit topic.

Program Facilitator

This short course will be coordinated by Professor Wendy van Duivenvoorde, a specialist in shipwreck archaeology, maritime cultural heritage and management, and applied methods in maritime and underwater Archaeology. Lectures, seminars, and practicals in this topic will be provided by conservation scientists and conservators from the WA Shipwrecks Museum.