Archaeology Students Take Part in the 2026 Excavation Training (Lateks) in the FIB Area
Makassar – As part of the practical learning component of the ‘Excavation Practicum’ module, the Archaeology Programme at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) is organising the 2026 Excavation Training (Lateks) programme. The programme will run for one week, from 1 to 7 October 2026, and will take place in an open-air area on the Faculty of Cultural Sciences campus.
The Lateks programme aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding and hands-on experience of systematic and scientific archaeological excavation methodology. Through this field simulation, students are trained to master various basic excavation techniques, ranging from site preparation, grid surveying, phased excavation and stratigraphic interpretation to the recording and handling of finds (artefacts/ecofacts) in the field.
During the exercise, the 75 students enrolled on the course were divided into 10 working teams. Each team was responsible for clearing and opening one designated excavation pit at the practical training site. Under close supervision, the students carried out a series of technical activities, including:
- Site Clearance & Grid Marking (Gritting/Setting Grid): Precisely determining the coordinates and boundaries of the excavation grid.
- Gradual Excavation: Carefully removing soil using excavation equipment in accordance with archaeological standards.
- Recording & Plotting of Finds: Recording spatial positions (3D), mapping, and drawing stratigraphic soil profiles.
- Processing of Field Finds: Washing, labelling and carrying out initial handling of artefacts and ecofacts discovered.
The entire series of practical sessions was supervised and guided directly by the team of lecturers responsible for the Excavation Practicum course, namely:
- Dr. Muhammad Nur, S.S., M.A.
- Dr. Hasanuddin, M.Hum.
- A. Muh. Saiful, S.S., M.A.
- Suryatman, S.S., M.Hum.
Through this intensive practical training, it is hoped that students will not only grasp the theory taught in class, but also develop the physical and mental resilience, as well as solid technical skills, required of future archaeologists.
