Ireland’s oldest and best-known Archaeology Field School with over 26 years of experience of training archaeology and anthropology students in the techniques of fieldwork and archaeological excavation. We offer residential introductory and modular courses that include a combination of in-depth training and a focus on state-of-the art archaeological research.
Introduction to Irish Archaeology 1(7- 11 May)
Course Fee Residential option €695; Non-residential option €550
This short course will involve excavating a trench over one of the smaller buildings in Keem Bay. Over four days we will excavate and record a trial trench through one of these buildings in the hope to obtain vital information about the building’s date and function, the students performing a full excavation in miniature. On the fifth day we will tour some of the archaeological sites to be found around the island.
Introduction to Irish Archaeology 2 (27-31 Aug)
Course Fee Residential option €695; Non-residential option €550
This course will involve an excavation at the site of Caraun Point on the northern coast of Achill Island. Caraun Point is a small sand-covered peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. In 2018 we will target a small stone building for excavation.
Bare Bones (27 Aug to 8 Sept)
Course Fee €995 Residential Option; €795 Non-residential option
This two week course involves a mixture of excavation and surveying tasks. It is ideal for people wishing to have their first experience with archaeology outside of the classroom or beyond books and television.
Archaeological Surveying Techniques (7-18 May; 13-24 August)
Course Fee €1,975
This course will include a Topographic Survey using a Dumpy Level, EDM (Total Station) and state of the art Trimble handheld Geo Explorer 6000’s and more simple Garmin handheld units.
Part of this course will involve teaching students how to survey a graveyard using Trimble hand-held units to record memorials, digitise the data and compile a map of the graveyard. Graveyards are an important part of our social history and collective memory and are a valuable genealogical resource.
Guided Tours/Walks
Wild Ireland West Walks offer guided walks and specialist archaeological and historical tours of Achill Island and the Corraun Peninsula, Clew Bay, North Mayo, Sligo, Galway City and the Midlands of Ireland. All walks and tours are guided by qualified archaeologists and professional tour guides. These half-day and 1-day tours are the ideal way to discover Achill’s and the West’s hidden history. Book through our sister website at: http://www.wildirelandwestwalks.com
Exhibition ’25 years exploring an Atlantic Island’
Established in 1991, Achill Archaeological Field School has undertaken research on many different aspects of the archaeology of Achill Civil Parish, based around extensive and intensive surveying programs followed by selective excavation of sites of particular interest.
Open from 9.30 am to 1pm Mon-Friday year round and free of charge.
2018 Achill Field School
A limited number of places are still available for this year’s courses, with some courses now filling up rapidly, so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Please visit achill-fieldschool.com for more details or email info@achill-fieldschool.com.
The Field School is a fully accredited Field School of the National University of Ireland Galway and also offers modular courses of 2-4-6 and 12 weeks duration and come with academic credit of 3-6 and 9 semester hours or 6-12 and18 ECTS.
All of our courses include tuition and materials, local transport and self-catering accommodation in our modern, fully equipped premises, next to the Archaeology Centre.
