SS103 / SS110 / SS111 – Introduction/Intermediate & Advanced Archaeological Excavation
SS103/SS110/SS111- (18 ECTS or 9US Credit Hours)
This six-week combined course will teach you the practicalities of archaeological excavation and provide you with hands-on experience of the key techniques you need to become future proficient excavators. This programme is generally aimed towards undergraduate students of archaeology and anthropology, who usually take the course for credit, but the course is open to all and can be taken by anyone with an interest in archaeological fieldwork.
Module Description
✓ Duration: 6 Weeks
✓ Available academic credits: 6ECTS x 3 = 18ECTS / 3 US credit hours x 3 = 9US credit hours
✓ Who should apply: This combined course is open to everyone, to anyone with an interest in the past and archaeological excavation, and those interested in developing their archaeological excavation skills to an advanced level.
Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this module, students will:
- understand the organisation and running of an archaeological excavation
- have acquired the basic & intermediate skills of archaeological excavation and recording
- be familiar with primary post-excavation techniques
- know how to organise and run an archaeological excavation on a daily basis
- have acquired advanced skills of archaeological excavation and recording
- be familiar with primary post-excavation techniques
- possess the skills necessary to work on archaeological excavations worldwide at supervisor or assistant level
Course Outline:
This course covers the introductory, intermediate and advanced levels of archaeological excavation.
The introduction to excavation part of this course is designed to provide students with their first taste of archaeological excavation. It will explain the varied methods used by archaeologists to excavate different types of site, whilst providing practical experience of at least one of those methods in the field. It will also train students in a number of basic necessary skills, including grid establishment and use, trowelling techniques, artefact recovery and recording, sampling methodology, context recording, planning and photography.
The intermediate excavation part of this course is designed to train students in intermediate level skills of archaeological excavation. It will explain the varied methods used by archaeologists to excavate different types of site and provide experience in a number of necessary skills, including intermediate levels of recovery and recording, feature excavation, and basic excavation responsibilities and team supervision.
The Advanced Archaeological Excavation module is designed to train students in advanced-level skills of archaeological excavation. It will provide experience of all the necessary excavation and primary post-excavation skills, in addition to excavation management, team supervision, trainee tuition, and interaction with the public. This will be achieved through on-site talks and lectures, physical demonstrations, and hands-on experience.
This will all be achieved through on-site talks and lectures, physical demonstrations, and hands-on experience.
Assessment (for those seeking academic credit):
- Attendance at, and participation in, all scheduled fieldwork, field class and lectures
- Completion of a Learner’s Journal (daily entries, Introduction and Conclusion, illustrations)
- Short quiz / multi-choice test
Field Tuition in the following:
- Site preparation
- Trowelling techniques
- Artefact recovery
- Feature excavation
- The recording system
- Context sampling
- Context recording
- Section and profile drawing
- Plan drawing
- Primary post-excavation procedures
- Sample sieving
- Use of automatic level
- Artefact handling and recognition
- Communicating archaeology
- Team supervision
Course Fee: €7,450.00
Learn more about paying your fees
Fees cover ALL of the following:
- Tuition
- Accommodation
- Insurance
- Equipment – each student will receive their own 4″ Archaeology Trowel
- Transport to and from the site daily
- Breakfast, Lunch and Evening Meal – Monday to Saturday
- Tea break
- An allowance will be provided for weekend trips