About the Field School

The Achill Field School celebrated 20 successful years as a Training School for undergraduate and graduate students.

The Achill Field School, established in 1991 is a Training School for students of archaeology, anthropology and related disciplines. Located in County Mayo, Achill is also the westernmost point in Ireland and is widely known for its beauty, majestic cliffs and mountains. Achill Island, Achill Beg island and the Corraun peninsula have a rich archaeological heritage that spans the entire spectrum of Irish history from the remote Neolithic to the nineteenth century.

A hallmark of Achill Field School is our reputation for the quality of our training. We cater for small group sizes with all instruction delivered directly by highly experienced archaeologists and environmental scientists. Following on from our research at the world-renowned Deserted Village in Slievemore, we have now extended our research to some of the prehistoric sites on Slievemore Mountain. The prehistoric landscape on Slievemore consists of Neolithic Tombs, massive stone-built Bronze Age Roundhouses, smaller circular and oval shaped buildings and a complex system of field walls. Because stone was the building material of choice, and because the sites have been covered over by the bog for several thousand years, the state of preservation is truly exemplary. To date, our students have helped excavate two of the largest and best-preserved prehistoric Middle Bronze Age buildings ever found in Ireland, as well as working on a series of associated, smaller but equally well preserved Early Medieval buildings. In addition to the work on the prehistoric landscape at Slievemore, we are also working on some very interesting 18th and 19th century transhumance sites, continuing Achill Field School’s long-standing association with post medieval archaeology.

In 2012, we shall be returning to work at the prehistoric sites on Slievemore Mountain and we will also continue work at a transhumance site in Annagh, an area known as the 'Back of Beyond', and the location of a large set of wonderfully preserved ‘Booley Houses’.

Self-catering (sharing) accommodation and local transport is included in the cost of each course.