Human and Social Studies Traditions, History and Legacies

Recover Hominid And Faunal Remains From A Hard Matrix Training

SAQA US 119874 | NQF 2 | Credits 5 | Duration 2 Days
From $832 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the specialized skills required to recover hominid and faunal remains from hard matrices such as breccia, calcified sediments, or concrete-like deposits. Participants will learn to apply controlled extraction techniques, document findings meticulously, and preserve the integrity of fragile fossil material. The training ensures compliance with heritage legislation and best practices in paleoanthropological fieldwork.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply appropriate mechanical and chemical methods to safely extract hominid and faunal remains from hard matrices.
  • Analyze the composition of the hard matrix to select suitable recovery tools and techniques.
  • Implement documentation protocols including photography, mapping, and labeling to maintain provenience data.
  • Evaluate the condition of recovered remains and apply stabilization measures to prevent damage.
  • Demonstrate compliance with South African heritage legislation and ethical standards during recovery operations.

Target Audience

This course is designed for field technicians, archaeologists, paleontologists, and heritage practitioners involved in fossil excavation or laboratory preparation. It is also suitable for museum curators and conservationists seeking to enhance their hands-on recovery skills.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Day 1: Principles of Hominid and Faunal Recovery from Hard Matrices

Objectives:
• Understand the geological and taphonomic contexts of hard matrix deposits.
• Identify appropriate tools and safety protocols for excavation.
• Apply mechanical and chemical techniques to extract remains without damage.
• Document stratigraphy and spatial data accurately.

Topics:
• Introduction to hard matrix types (breccia, calcified sediments, conglomerates)
• Taphonomy and preservation of hominid and faunal remains
• Risk assessment and site safety procedures
• Hand tools and power tools for matrix removal
• Controlled mechanical extraction methods (chisels, drills, pneumatic tools)
• Chemical softening agents (acetic acid, EDTA) and their application
• In-field stabilization and packaging of fragile specimens
• Recording provenience and stratigraphic context

Day 2: Advanced Techniques and Practical Integration

Objectives:
• Apply combined mechanical and chemical methods on simulated hard matrix blocks.
• Execute micro-excavation techniques for delicate remains.
• Implement conservation measures during and after extraction.
• Compile a field report documenting recovery processes and findings.

Topics:
• Micro-excavation under magnification (binocular microscopes, dental tools)
• Sequential chemical dissolution and mechanical cleaning
• Consolidants and adhesives for in situ stabilization
• Casting and molding of extraction voids
• Lab-based extraction: saws, grinders, and air scribes
• Data integration: photography, 3D scanning, and GIS recording
• Practical exercise: recover simulated hominid and faunal elements from a hard matrix block
• Reporting and curation protocols for recovered specimens

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Tue 08 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $832 Register
Tue 29 Sep 2026 Wed 30 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $832 Register
Wed 21 Oct 2026 Thu 22 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $832 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Tue 08 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $832 Register
Tue 12 Jan 2027 Wed 13 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $832 Register
Wed 17 Feb 2027 Thu 18 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $832 Register
Thu 04 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $832 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Tue 09 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $832 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $832 Register
Wed 09 Jun 2027 Thu 10 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $832 Register
Thu 01 Jul 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $832 Register
Mon 19 Jul 2027 Tue 20 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $832 Register
Tue 07 Sep 2027 Wed 08 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $832 Register
Wed 29 Sep 2027 Thu 30 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $832 Register
Thu 21 Oct 2027 Fri 22 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $832 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Tue 07 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $832 Register
Tue 28 Dec 2027 Wed 29 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $832 Register
Wed 19 Jan 2028 Thu 20 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $832 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 492 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $4,217 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $4,217 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Mauritius Winter 2026 $2,813 Register
Thu 13 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,895 Register
Thu 13 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,247 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Tue 15 Sep 2026 Wed 16 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,080 Register
Wed 07 Oct 2026 Thu 08 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,080 Register
Thu 29 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,080 Register
Tue 15 Dec 2026 Wed 16 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,080 Register
Wed 20 Jan 2027 Thu 21 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,080 Register
Thu 25 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,080 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Tue 09 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,080 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,080 Register
Wed 24 Mar 2027 Thu 25 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,080 Register
Thu 17 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,080 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Tue 06 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,080 Register
Tue 27 Jul 2027 Wed 28 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,080 Register
Wed 15 Sep 2027 Thu 16 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,080 Register
Thu 07 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,080 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Tue 26 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,080 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Wed 15 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,080 Register
Wed 05 Jan 2028 Thu 06 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,080 Register
Thu 27 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,080 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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