Thursday, August 5, 2010

2010, a new beginning

Building the TARDIS, November 2008
The La Trobe University TARDIS is based upon Dr Jay Hall's original TARDIS at the University of Queensland. It aims to give students the opportunity to develop excavation and archaeological project management skills in a safe, supportive environment, without the responsibilities, pressures and costs of excavating real archaeological sites. 
The LTU TARDIS was constructed by Peter Saad, and members of the Archaeology Program staff and postgraduates in 2008. It has seven layers, starting with Historical Australia at the top and visiting Mayan Mesoamerica, Bronze Age Cyprus, Neolithic China, Natufian Jordan, Indigenous Pleistocene Australia, before reaching its final destination, Plio-Pleistocene Africa.
The first season of student excavations took place in August-September 2009.




2009 students working in the TARDIS (photos: David Frankel)
The second season of excavations is about to begin. For further details, contact David Thomas.