Europe - Ireland - Archaeological Field School - Ireland and the Isle of Man

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This field school is based in two beautiful Celtic countries: Ireland and the Isle of Man, which lies between Ireland and Britain.

University of Liverpool

12 credit hours
15 ECTS
30 UK credits at level 1

Ireland (2 weeks) and Isle of Man (4 weeks) Non-Eu £1,950 Sterling (c. $3,000 US); EU £1,750.

This includes tuition, fees, accommodation (Ireland: shared house with all meals provided, Isle of Man: camp site, individual tents provided, self-catering apart from lunches, on-site insurance, local travel (including transfer between Ireland and the Isle of Man).

Course Content

The Field School offers a unique mixture of survey and excavation, with students having some choice in the type of project which they carry out in the last two weeks. The information on this page is often what is required by academic advisors to ensure that the program can be recognised for credit at your university. Remember that the University of Liverpool issues credit based on the UK system of 30 credits at level 1. You must ensure that your university will accept this, and what credit value they will give for this field school. In the past, different students have found very varied responses from their institutions, so double-check with your academic advisor if you need credits.

The program is suitable for students at all levels and extent of archaeological knowledge and experience, from complete beginners to graduate students. We ensure that students are given training, experience and supporting reading appropriate to their level of experience.

Students with field experience and particular interests which they would wish to pursue should discuss these with the director in advance to see what modifications to the program could be made for them. This can be particularly important for graduate students with the desire to learn or develop particular skills.

Part 1: Survey in Ireland

* Surface survey using EDM (electronic distance measurement), including setting up and using the EDM and the prism staff
* Graveyard monument recording including filling coded forms, transcribing texts, measuring monument dimensions and orientation, making rubbings and taking record photographs

The principles of classification, collecting numerical and qualitative data, and the cultural interpretation of data through time and space, are experienced and explained through this part of the field school

A written assignment is completed at the end of the two weeks spent on this aspect which combines the results of on-site instruction, field experience and reading based on the literature at the base camp.

Part 2: Excavation and Survey in the Isle of Man

Work will take place on a multi-period settlement.

* Use of small and large hand tools in excavation
* Excavation of test pits with screening
* On-site finds recording and processing
* Site survey using level and tapes
* Recording deposits, including filling in of context forms, drawing a plan and a profile
* Site photography

* Magnetometer survey to detect below-surface features such as hearths and pits.

The methods used are those used within the British Isles and in North America; the differences between these and the reasons why they are employed are explained. Students thus obtain experience of a wide range of fieldwork approaches.

A written assignment is completed at the end of the two weeks spent on this aspect which combines the results of on-site instruction, field experience and reading based on the literature at the base camp.

Part 3: Project

The students each chose a project in discussion with the Field School director, Dr Harold Mytum. The project relates to an aspect of the ongoing fieldwork, and can involve concentrating on a particular aspect of the excavation such as test pit excavation and recording, working on a particular feature, on cataloguing artefacts or ecofacts from the excavations, or on processing some of the graveyard, geophysics or surface survey data. This can consolidate and expand the student experience of a particular aspect of the program already begun in the first four weeks.

This allows students to understand what happens to the field records at the next stage of data analysis.

The project is written up by the end of the two weeks devoted to this element, and utilises the literature available at the base camp to set the experiences in context.

Additional opportunities

One day a week during the excavations there is a site tour where progress in every area is reviewed, with the area supervisors explaining what has happened. This keeps everyone on the dig informed about all parts of the site, and so they can appreciate how all the elements of the project are developing.

After work field visits, in both Ireland and the Isle of Man, give the opportunity for students to see other sites of all periods from the Neolithic to historic, accompanied by knowledgeable guides. Where appropriate, museums will also be visited.

On days off, the opportunity is given for day trips to historic places, both for recreation and informal education. Students often chose to take the bus to Dublin or Belfast whilst in Ireland. Many parts of the Isle of Man can be reached by bus or historic steam train.

Prehistoric and early Medieval

Prehistoric and early Medieval

The sites will largely be rural. Students will be driven to site.

Students will be driven to site each day.

Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5:30 on site. Weekends one day structured activities and one day free time. Additional reading material available for non-timetabled study time.

No

Dr. Harold Mytum, Kate Chapman and experienced supervisors.

Excavation
Survey
Geophysics
Data entry
Drawing
Paper records
Photography
Environmental processing
Finds processing

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Kate Chapman
Administrator,
Archaeological Field School,
Centre for Manx Studies,
University of Liverpool,
The Stable Building,
The University Centre,
Old Castletown Road,
Douglas,
Isle of Man,
IM2 1QB.

Tel: +44 1624 695777.