NUI Galway, International Summer School, ACHILL ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD SCHOOL

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.

The Field School offers 2-week, 4-week and 6-week modular courses that come with Academic Credit. Three semester hours are available for the 2-weeks module, 6 semester hours for the 4-weeks module and 9 semester hours for the 6-weeks module.

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 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

Course Modules
Academic Director:  Professor Charlotte Damm
Local Academic Director: Theresa McDonald, M.A. PhD. Candidate.

- SU409 Introduction to Irish Archaeology  
  (3 semester credits / 6 ECTS credits)
- SU410 Archaeological Field Studies
- (3 semester credits / 6 ECTS credits)
- SU413 Data Analysis
  (3 semester credits / 6 ECTS credits)

Participants taking three modules are eligible for 18 Semester Credits (9 Semester Hours).

Programme Dates

• May 14 - June 22, 2012
• July 2 - August 10, 2012

Contact

Further information from:  

The Administrator
Achill Archaeological Field School,
Archaeology Centre,
Dooagh, Achill Island,
Co. Mayo.
Telephone:  +353-98-43564
Fax:           +353-98-43595
Email:         infoachill-fieldschool.com 
Webpage:   http://www.achill-fieldschool.com/

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