Field School Courses

Achill Field School Courses

Experience island archaeology in the beautiful West of Ireland.

3-Days, 1 Week, 2 weeks, 4 Week, and 6 Week Courses offered

For nineteen years the Achill Archaeological Field School has been training and educating archaeologists in field and laboratory techniques, monument recognition, and the full scope of Irish archaeology.  Individuals trained in the summer field school include over 1000 students from 30 different countries who have gone on to professional careers in archaeology and anthropology. The existence of the field school infrastructure, modern laboratory and dormitory premises, field and laboratory equipment, an extensive library, and the resident expertise in technical training make the Achill Field School the ideal institution to offer international institutions a selection of programme dealing with Irish archaeology and history.

The Field School was established to address the very real need for hands-on archaeological training for students of archaeology and to this a core component was archaeological methodology, coupled with a number of complementary ancillary courses.

The Achill Archaeological Field School is ideally placed and has the necessary infrastructure to provide the best possible academic and technical training for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as being able to offer a variety of advanced and specialist courses.

The Achill Archaeological Field School is accorded credits by NUI-Galway based on an approved specific 6-week course modules for undergraduates and members of the general public.  18 ECTS or 9 semester credits are allocated to students who successfully complete the course.  12 ECTS or 6 Semester credits are awared for successful completion of the 4-week modules.

The Achill Archaeological Field School is very active in research over the full range of the subject and is currently sponsoring two PhD students (Maritime archaeology and Post-Medieval Ceramics) and two Masters students (Landscape archaeology and Architectural survey at a post medieval Deserted Village).

Participate in the excavation and documentation of a variety of sites including megalithic tombs, maritime archaeological sites and the ruins of a Famine - era village, and enjoy unforgettable personalised tours of the region's premier archaeological sites led by local experts.

5,000 years of human occupation on Slievemore Mountain continues to be the theme of the 2010 programme and will include field trips to the numerous prehistoric and historic sites in the area, backed up by lectures on archaeology, history, art and folklore of Achill Island.

The Achill Archaeological Field School is pleased to announce the participatioin of eminent academics/archhaeologists to deliver a series of lectures during the Field School courses for 2010. These will include Dr Kieran O'Connor, NUIG and Dr Noel McCarthy, NUIG.  

Speakers confirmed for our Tuesday evening summer lecture series include Dr Kieran O'Conor, NUI Galway, Dr. Cormac Bourke, Curator, Ulster Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Olive Carey, MA, Clare Historical and Archaeological Society and Christine Grant MA, Department of the Environment and Theresa McDonald, MA, NUI Galway. 

Please contact us for further details.