NUI Galway, International Summer School, Burren Field School in Historical archaeology

Academic Director: Professor Charles E. Orser Jr

Academic Co-ordinator:  Maggie Ronayne, M.A.

The Burren Field School is an exciting community-based research and education project directed by experienced historical archaeologists.  The Burren Field School will be of interest to students of many disciplines including archaeology, anthropology, history, oral history, rural studies, geography, sociology, development studies and Irish studies. 

The Burren Field School will introduce students to an original and innovative field-based research programme aimed at providing new information about life in the 19 ^th century with a central emphasis being the daily life of women, children and men before, during and after the Great Famine of the late 1840s.  The programme is founded on principles of co-operation and collaboration with communities and aims to develop mutually accountable work arising out of community initiatives and concerns.  Ultimately the goal is to support sustainability and respect for the Burren and its communities.  Students enrolled in the project will obtain hands-on experience with archaeological excavation, survey, historical analysis, artefact analysis and public archaeology selecting from a menu of core training and optional studies.  The field school will be interdisciplinary, also involving elements of history, geography, geology, and anthropology as well as an introduction to issues in professional ethics, conservation and development. 

Field School Modules

SU414   Field Study in Historical Archaeology
This comprehensive field study course combines practical skills, interpretation and critical analysis.  As full collaborators with trained teaching professionals and the community, students will gain first-hand experience in a variety of methods, alternating between excavation and transciption of historical documents, oral history, survey of deserted villages and other sites from the 19 ^th century using GPS and Total Station, geophysics and public archaeology work. 
3 Semester Credits / 6 ECTS Credits

SU415   Historic Artefact Analysis 

This intensive and practical course provides students with detailed instruction and valuable skills in the identification, dating, recording and interpretation of archaeological specimens dating to the late 18th and 19th centuries. The artefacts will derive from excavation at the deserted village and the course includes comparison with similar objects from Ireland and beyond.  Teaching will also focus on theories regarding the creation, use and exchange of material culture by communities. 
3 Semester Credits / 6 ECTS Credits

Faculty

Staff contributing to the field school have extensive University teaching experience including on field schools and public archaeology projects in a number of countries.  Teaching faculty include two established professors who are leading experts in their fields, the current head of archaeology at NUI Galway and other experienced lecturing and technical staff.  The programme includes distinguished guest lecturers from the fields of culture and heritage in Ireland and community experts.

Academic Director: Professor Charles E. Orser, Jr, Curator of Historical Archaeology at the New York State Museum, Adjunct Professor at NUI Galway and Former Distinguished Professor At Illinois State University, is a leading archaeologist in the field of historical archaeology.  He has a PhD in archaeological anthropology and over 25 years of experience in excavation, field schools and historic artefact identification and analysis in the US, Latin America and Ireland.

Academic Co-ordinator: Maggie Ronayne, M.A., Head of Archaeology at NUI Galway has lectured in Archaeology in Ireland and the UK since the 1990s.  She has conducted archaeological fieldwork including public archaeology projects in a number of countries including Turkey, Mexico and Ireland. 

Teaching Methods

Teaching will be by means of lectures, seminars, guided discussions and fieldwork.  Practical fieldwork and research will be a central feature of the programme.  Focused classroom and field tuition in small groups offer in depth and varied opportunities for learning.  The programme will include lectures each week, tutorials and a guided tour on one weekend to introduce students to the Burren’s rich cultural heritage.  The course includes museum and heritage centre visits to understand and assess the curation and presentation of relevant artefacts to the public and their present day social significance.    

Excavation

The excavation will focus on the deserted village of Lios An Ru on a hillside above the modern village of Ballyvaughan.  The village consists of 8 stone structures with possible gardens, fields and pathways all located inside an ancient stone fort.  A medieval castle is within sight of the village and other, much older monuments are nearby.  Students who successfully complete the course will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of basic field practices and research design in historical archaeology; identify a variety of arefacts and physical remains and appreciate how archaeologists use them to interpret the past; demonstrate a firm understanding of the importance of multidisciplinary research and accountable community engagement.

Accommodation

Shared self-catering accommodation will be arranged for all students and the cost is additional to the course fee.  Please see the summer school website for details.

Programme Details

Dates:                June 5 – July 1, 2011
Credits:              6 Semester Credits/12 ECTS Credits. 
Tuition and Fees: €2200

Course Contacts and Registration

To register, please complete the attached enrolment form.  For further information applicants should contact:

Fiona Dwyer
Administrator,
Summer School Office
National University of Ireland, Galway
Tel: +353 91 495442
Fax: +353 91 525051
Email: fiona.dwyernuigalway.ie

Websites
www.nuigalway.ie/iss  www.nuigalway.ie/archaeology/Research/Archaeology_and_the_Famine/famine_and_19th_century_life.html

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