Dunedin-based New Zealand Historic Places Trust archaeologist
Dr Matthew Schmidt will have the chance to update his skills
involving the investigation, conservation and management of
archaeological sites when he attends a course in Japan next
month.
The trust's Otago-Southland regional archaeologist is the
only New Zealander selected to attend the month-long training
programme focusing on preserving and restoring cultural
heritage.
"It is fantastic - brilliant," he said yesterday. .
"It will be great to . . . share experiences and hear the
latest views."
Dr Schmidt graduated in 1991 and gained his PhD in 1996.
He worked in Britain for seven years and as an archaeological
consultant for two years, before joining the trust two years
ago.
He was selected from a short list of three New Zealanders.
Held in the ancient city of Nara, Japan, the course is
organised and directed by the Unesco-founded International
Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of
Cultural Property.
Sixteen people from the Asia-Pacific region will participate
in lectures and workshops during the week and field studies
at weekends.
The content has a strong technical focus, with study topics
including global trends in conserving archaeological sites,
environmental archaeology, scientific dating methods,
conservation treatment of artefacts, dendrochronology (dating
based on analysis of tree-ring growth patterns), conservation
science, and conservation and use of cultural heritage.
"It will be interesting but a lot of work," Dr Schmidt said.
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