Achill Archaeological Field School
Achill Island, County Mayo, Ireland
Experience Island Archaeology in the beautiful
West of Ireland.

The Field School
The Achill Archaeological Field School was founded in
1991 as a Training School for students of archaeology and
anthropology. The Field School is based at the Achill
Archaeology Centre in Dooagh and at the Deserted Village of
Slievemore, both of which are located in the west of Ireland
on Achill Island in County Mayo.
For seventeen years the Achill Archaeological Field
School has been training and educating archaeology students
in field and laboratory techniques, monument recognition,
and the full scope of Irish archaeology. Individuals trained
in the summer field school include over 1000 students from
30 different countries who have gone on to professional
careers in archaeology and anthropology.The existence of the
field school infrastructure, modern laboratory and dormitory
premises, field and laboratory equipment, an extensive
library, and the resident expertise in technical training
make the Achill Field School the ideal institution to offer
international institutions a selection of programme dealing
with Irish archaeology and history.
The Achill Field School was established to address the
very real need for hands-on archaeological training for
students of archaeology and to this a core component was
archaeological methodology, coupled with a number of
complementary ancillary courses. The Achill Field School is
ideally placed and has the necessary infrastructure to
provide the best possible academic and technical training
for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as being
able to offer a variety of advanced and specialist
courses.
The Field School is currently involved in a study of the
prehistoric and historic landscape at Slievemore,
incorporating a research excavation at a number of sites
within the village. Slievemore is rich in archaeological
monuments that span a 5000 year period from the Neolithic to
the Post Medieval. Academic Credit for overseas students is
provided by the National University of Ireland at Galway
with whom the school has formal linkage. 12 ECTS or 6
semester credits are allocated to students who successfully
complete the 6-week or 8-week courses.
The Achill Field School is very active in research over
the full range of the subject and is currently sponsoring
two PhD students (Maritime archaeology and Post-Medieval
Ceramics) and two Masters students (Landscape archaeology
and Architectural survey at a Post Medieval Deserted
Village).
Students attending the school will participate in the
excavation and documentation of a variety of sites including
megalithic tombs, maritime archaeological sites and the
ruins of a Famine - era village, and enjoy unforgettable
personalised tours of the region's premier archaeological
sites led by local experts.
5,000 years of human occupation on Slievemore Mountain
will be the theme of the 2008 programme and will include
field trips to the numerous prehistoric and historic sites
in Connacht, backed up by lectures on archaeology, history,
art and folklore of Achill Island. A Conference scheduled
for September 2008 will have as its theme 'Island
Archaeology'. Evening guest speakers will discuss and
illustrate various aspects of Irish Archaeology and
History.
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