What is a Field School? Archaeology FAQ

By the first part of December each year, universities, museums and cultural resource management firms in the northern hemisphere all over the world are planning the next field season. I've been featuring a few of them, with photographs of the field work and details of the various projects. But a recent question from a reader reminded me that not everybody is up on what a field school is, not everyone is aware, of how field work is scheduled. Perhaps many people are not aware that, anyone with the time and extra cash can spend some time on an archaeological dig. Well, then, this feature is for you.

What is a Field School?

Here's the way it works. A field school, as you might imagine, is primarily for the training of undergraduate or graduate students who want to be professional archaeologists. For a period ranging between one week and many months, a small band of students is taken into the field and shown how to dig, given lectures, sometimes an exam, sometimes a project of some sort. The students get credit and training that way, starting them off in a career in archaeology.

However, many field schools also welcome members of the local historical society or archaeology club, or even provide opportunities for the general public to experience archaeology for themselves. Almost every archaeology department or anthropology department with a concentration in archaeology in the world conducts archaeological field research in schools every summer or every other summer.

Attending a Field School

To attend such a field school, you'll need stamina, clothes you don't mind destroying, a hat with a brim, and SPF 30 sunblock. You may get college credit. You may have to provide your own travel and housing expenses. You'll need a strong sense of adventure; a stronger sense of humor; and the ability to work hard without complaining (too much!). But you might have the time of your life.

So, if you have a few days or weeks this summer, and you want to experience a little real live archaeology, this is the time to start looking! A field school list has been compiled for this site; you could also go to your nearby university and find out from the archaeology or anthropology department if they are running one this summer. Good luck and good digging!

• Archaeology Dig 2007, a list of available field opportunities sorted by location

These photos are all from recent Fieldworks in Focus; top is from Fort Vancouver; middle from West Point Foundry; and bottom from Tel Rehov.