Abstract:

The process of students education in universities is usually conducted on the basis of lectures and "blackboard" exercises that increase the knowledge of future engineers in a purely theoretical manner. Engineering areas of knowledge require the transfer of practical skills, which is why it is necessary to additionally introduce laboratory and project activities to students education process, however, such classes are often insufficient and do not exhaust the problem.

A feature of laboratory classes conducted at universities is their "sterility" - the conditions for exercises are largely controlled. Students are supervising by teachers and are required to read the instructions of exercise performance. Samples and equipment are prepared before the classes so students can easily implement the tasks set before them. Such conditions are good for methodical learning to perform specific activities. They also allow to easily detect mistakes made by students and get students to learn from failures. However, prepared environments are often significantly different from conditions that can be encountered at work, and does not prepare students to solve problems encountered during the "actual" work.

Field surveying and archaeological works are usually carried out under time pressure, which is difficult to estimate due to external factors. The existing conditions (weather, limited space, the presence of tourists, other activities carried out in the neighbourhood) may significantly impede field works, which, in turn, increases the pressure of the time. Students on apprenticeships and field laboratories can meet such real conditions.

The article describes the course of field laboratory organized on grounds of the 18th-century fortress in Srebrna Góra (Poland), the largest mountain fortress in Europe. The students of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of University of Gdańsk and students of Geodesy from Gdańsk University of Technology participated in the laboratory. The article presents a brief description of the object, tasks set for students of both universities, the course of their work and its selected effects. It is also indicated what skills students acquired and consolidate during the work.

Keywords:

Geodesy, Archaeology, photogrammetry, education.