The minimum admission requirement is the General Certificate of Education (Advanced level) or an equivalent qualification. A foundation course followed by passing an aptitude test or completion of NVQ level 4 or accredited work experience or accredited prior learning may also be considered an equivalent qualification for admission to SLQF level 3 in a particular field of specialization.

General Introduction to Palaeobiodiversity and Related Fields.

Course Code: DPPB 0301

Course Content:

1. Introduction to Palaeobiodiversity
2. Concepts of Palaeobiodiversity
3. Time Scales
4. Plate Tectonic and Speciation (Flora & Fauna)
5. Mass Extinction
6. Palaeobiodiversity Research in Sri Lanka
7. Literature Surveying and usage of Library
8. Palaeobiodiversity sites in Sri Lanka
9. Palaeobiodiversity Action Plan in Sri Lanka
10. Recreating the Past
11. Human Evolution

 

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate communication skills of Palaeobiodiversity and Related Fields.

Method of Teaching and Learning: Lectures/ Tutorials/ Discussion Classes/ Presentation/ Field Lessons and Laboratory Studies. 

Assessments: End of course written examination of MCQ and/ or structural Essays and/ or Assignments and/or presentations and/ or Activities.

Rocks, Minerals and Weathering Processes

Course Code: DPPB 0302

Course Content:

1. Introduction to Rocks & Minerals, and their Formation
2. Fossil Bearing Rocks
3. Weathering and Earth Processes
4. Major Geo Subdivisions of Sri Lanka
5. Rocks and Mineral of Sri Lanka
6. Gemology
7. Fossil and Fossilization Processes
8. Global Sea level changers & its Impact on Land, Flora & Fauna
9. Sea Level Changing in Sri Lanka
10. Vegetation types of Sri Lanka
11. Shell-middens of Sri Lanka
12. Survey and mapping in Archaeology

 

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate communication skills of Rocks, Minerals and Weathering Processes

Method of Teaching and Learning: Lectures/ Tutorials/ Discussion Classes/ Presentation/ Field Lessons and Laboratory Studies. 

Assessments: End of course written examination of MCQ and/ or structural Essays and/ or Assignments and/or presentations and/ or Activities.

Palaeontology and Living fossils

Course Code: DPPB 0303

Course Content:

1. Biogeographical Zone of the World
2. Biogeography in Asia & Animal Migratory Routes, Living Fossils
3. Biogeography in Sri Lanka – Plants, Snails, Birds
4. Biogeography in Sri Lanka – Amphibian, Reptile, Fish
5. Biogeography in Sri Lanka – Mammals
6. General Introduction to Palaeontology
7. Types of Fossils by Era
8. Jurassic Period of Sri Lanka & Classification of Jurassic Fossils
9. Miocene of Sri Lanka & Classification of Miocene Fossils
10. Pleistocene of Sri Lanka & Classification of Pleistocene Fossils
11. Fossil Collections and curations
12. Fossil Displaying and Museums

 

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate communication skills of Palaeontology and Living fossils

Method of Teaching and Learning: Lectures/ Tutorials/ Discussion Classes/ Presentation/ Field Lessons and Laboratory Studies. 

Assessments: End of course written examination of MCQ and/ or structural Essays and/ or Assignments and/or presentations and/ or Activities.

 

Palaeohuman Diversity and Cultural Evolution

Course Code: DPPB 0304

Course Content:

1. General Introduction to Prehistory in Sri Lanka
2. Concept & Evolution of Culture
3. Asian Tribal people & Their Culture
4. Stone tool tradition (Global)
5. Sri Lanka Stone tool Variation
6. Bone Tool tradition
7. Zooarchaeology
8. Zooarchaeological Interpretations of cave sites in Sri Lanka
9. Palaeobotany and plant Domestication
10. Animal Domestication
11. History of Art in Prehistoric world
12. Ancient and Modern Art
13. Settlement Archaeology in Sri Lanka
14. Iron Technology in Sri Lanka
15. Ornaments and Rituals in Prehistoric Sri Lanka
16. The Legends of Nittawo

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate communication skills of Palaeohuman Diversity and Cultural Evolution

Method of Teaching and Learning: Lectures/ Tutorials/ Discussion Classes/ Presentation/ Field Lessons and Laboratory Studies. 

Assessments: End of course written examination of MCQ and/ or structural Essays and/ or Assignments and/or Presentation and/ or Activity.

Tourism and Palaeobiodiversity

Course Code: DPPB 0305

1. Definition of tourism, The Nature of tourism, The component of tourism
2. Legislation and ordinance of tourism in Sri Lanka
3. Palaeobiodiversity & Eco tourism in Sri Lanka
4. New Trends in Palaeo tourism
5. Potential of Palaeobiodiversity tourism in Sri Lanka
6. Palaeobiodiversity and Cave tourism
7. Nature tourism in Archaeology
8. Heritage management of Palaeobiodiversity sites.
9. Palaeobiodiversity & Law
10. Environmental law in Sri Lanka

 

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate communication skills of Tourism and Palaeobiodiversity

Course Content:

Method of Teaching and Learning: Lectures/ Tutorials/ Discussion Classes/ Presentation/ Field Lessons and Laboratory Studies. 

Assessments: End of course written examination of MCQ and/ or structural Essays and/ or Assignments and/or Presentation and/ or Activity.  

Laboratory Studies

Course Code: DPPB 0306

Course Content:

1. Identification of Rocks
2. Jurassic period of Sri Lanka & Classification of Jurassic fossils
3. Miocene period of Sri Lanka & Classification of Miocene fossils
4. Pleistocene period of Sri Lanka & Classification of Pleistocene fossils
5. Identification of Stone tools
6. Identification of Bone tools
7. Laboratory Studies (Zooarchaeology)
8. Fish remains
9. Snails
10. Bird bones & Reptiles Bones
11. Mammals
12. Human & Primates
13. Storage methods – Cleaning, Labeling, Preserving of Faunal materials
14. Technical Drawings
15. Bone measuring techniques

 

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate communication skills of Laboratory Studies

Method of Teaching and Learning: Lectures/ Tutorials/ Discussion Classes/ Presentation/ Field Lessons and Laboratory Studies. 

Assessments: End of course written examination of MCQ and/ or structural Essays and/ or Assignments and/or practical test and/or Presentation and/ or Activity.

Field Studies

Learning Outcomes: Obtain training for students to apply the theoretical knowledge gained, in a practical context.

Course Content: Field visits and training, workshops.

Methods of Teaching and Learning: Lectures/ Tutorials/Discussion Classes/ Presentations/ Field Lessons/ Practical Studies/ Sites visits/Assist the students for an independent investigation of interest subject areas.

Assessments: End of the course submits the report to the Course Coordinator.

The applications can be obtained from the Administration office of the PGIAR
Duly completed applications should be sent to:
    The Assistant Registrar (Academic),
    Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology
    407, Bauddhaloka Mawatha,
    Colombo 07.

Please indicate “DIPLOMA IN PALAEOBIODIVERSITY” on the top left-hand corner of the envelope.

Online application

Registration fee	Rs. 1500
Total Course Fee	Rs. 50,000

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