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.
