Summer 2024

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Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording  (4 Week) (Accredited Course)

https://www.dkit.ie/courses/school-of-business-and-humanities/humanities/certificate-in-archaeological-excavation-and-recording.html

This course will be available to students in both May and June 2024. Students will be introduced to excavation, post-excavation and survey methods. The course is divided between excavation within the friary/friary precinct, post-excavation, recording and survey. Each student will typically spend one week on each element. The excavation, post-excavation and survey sections will be directed and supervised by archaeologists, Finola O’Carroll, Mark McConnon and Laura Corrway.

The objective of this course is to train students in setting out a cutting and tying it to the site grid, the use of various tools, methods of excavation, feature recognition, recording using feature sheets, photography, planning and survey.  All students take part in post-excavation processing, including the formation of the written record. The research strategy and previous results which inform the overall excavation plan will be discussed with students, so they can set their work in the overall context of the research framework. Field trips and lectures will introduce the student to the wider landscape and historical context of the Black Friary, and the town of Trim. This course is an accredited program from Dundalk Institute of Technology (https://courses.dkit.ie/index.cfm/page/course/courseId/1321).

At the end of the four-week course students will:

  • Understand the theory and practice of archaeological excavation, including the single context recording system, site grid, stratigraphy, and the Harris Matrix.
  • Have excavated an archaeological feature.
  • Understand how to fill in context sheets, do scaled drawings, take properly set up photographs, take levels, co-ordinates and document these.
  • Have received an introduction to the digitisation of site plans and drawings
  • Know how to excavate, retrieve, bag and record archaeological objects (artefacts and ecofacts).
  • Have carried out basic environmental sampling.
  • Understand the process of post-excavation analysis by participating in the work.
  • Have processed archaeological finds and know the correct procedures for cleaning and labelling artefacts.

Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording with Osteology  (5 Week) (Accredited Course)

https://www.dkit.ie/courses/school-of-business-and-humanities/humanities/certificate-in-archaeological-excavation-and-recording-with-osteology.html

Students will be introduced to excavation, post-excavation, bioarchaeology and survey methods. The course is divided between excavation within the friary/friary precinct, post-excavation, bio-archaeology and recording and survey. Each student will typically spend one week on each element. The excavation, post-excavation and survey sections will be directed and supervised by archaeologists Finola O’Carroll, Mark McConnon and Laura Corrway. The bioarchaeology course is directed by Dr. Rachel Scott.

The objective of this 5 week course is to train students in setting out a cutting and tying it to the site grid, the use of various tools, methods of excavation, feature recognition, recording using feature sheets, photography, planning and survey. It also comprises an introduction to bioarchaeology in the field, excavation and post-excavation treatment of human remains, theory and practice. All students take part in post-excavation processing, including the formation of the written record. The research strategy and previous results which inform the overall excavation plan will be discussed with students, so they can set their work in the overall context of the research framework. Field trips and lectures will introduce the student to the wider landscape and historical context of the Black Friary, and the town of Trim. This course is an accredited program from Dundalk Institute of Technology  (https://courses.dkit.ie/index.cfm/page/course/courseId/8609).

At the end of the course students will:

  • Understand the theory and practice of archaeological excavation, including the single context recording system, site grid, stratigraphy, and the Harris Matrix.
  • Have excavated an archaeological feature.
  • Understand how to fill in context sheets, do scaled drawings, take properly set up photographs, take levels, co-ordinates and document these.
  • Have received an introduction to the digitisation of site plans and drawings
  • Know how to excavate, retrieve, bag and record archaeological objects (artefacts and ecofacts).
  • Know the principals and best practice for the excavation of human remains, have participated in the excavation and post-excavation processing of human bone and learned the necessary recording techniques
  • Have carried out basic environmental sampling.
  • Understand the process of post-excavation analysis by participating in the work.
  • Have processed archaeological finds and know the correct procedures for cleaning and labelling artefacts.

BF Summer 1   Intensive course in Fieldwork and Post-Excavation Methods (2 Week ) (Unaccredited Course)

This course will be available to students in both May and June 2024. Students will be introduced to excavation, post-excavation and survey methods. The course is divided between excavation within the friary/friary precinct and post-excavation methods. Each student will typically spend one week on each element. The excavation, post-excavation and survey sections will be directed and supervised by archaeologists, Finola O’Carroll, Mark McConnon and Laura Corrway.

The objective of this course is to train students in setting out a cutting and tying it to the site grid, the use of various tools, methods of excavation, feature recognition, recording using feature sheets, photography, planning and survey.  All students take part in post-excavation processing, including the formation of the written record. The research strategy and previous results which inform the overall excavation plan will be discussed with students, so they can set their work in the overall context of the research framework. Field trips and lectures will introduce the student to the wider landscape and historical context of the Black Friary, and the town of Trim.

At the end of the four-week course students will:

  • Understand the theory and practice of archaeological excavation, including the single context recording system, site grid, stratigraphy, and the Harris Matrix.
  • Have excavated an archaeological feature.
  • Understand how to fill in context sheets, do scaled drawings, take properly set up photographs, take levels, co-ordinates and document these.
  • Have received an introduction to the digitisation of site plans and drawings
  • Know how to excavate, retrieve, bag and record archaeological objects (artefacts and ecofacts).
  • Have carried out basic environmental sampling.
  • Understand the process of post-excavation analysis by participating in the work.
  • Have processed archaeological finds and know the correct procedures for cleaning and labelling artefacts.

Course dates and accreditation:

*Please note there are no pre-requisites for these courses.

ID  Course Name Duration Dates Credits
BF Summer 1.1 Intensive course in Fieldwork and Post-Excavation Methods 2 Weeks Choose Dates from May 7th, June 4th and July 2nd 2024 None
BF Summer 1.2 Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording  4 Weeks Session 1: May 7th – May 31st 2024 12.5 ECTS (6 Semester Credit Units)
BF Summer 1.3 Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording 4 Weeks Session 2: June 4th – June 28th 2024 12.5 ECTS (6 Semester Credit Units)
BF Summer 2 Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording with Osteology 5 weeks July 2nd – August 2nd 2024 15 ECTS

(7-8 Semester Credit Units)

Costs 

Below is the list of course fees. Included in the fees are tuition, accommodation, lectures and fieldtrips. International transfers and travel are not included. 

ID Programme Course Dates Cost*
BF Summer 1.1 Intensive course in Fieldwork and Post-Excavation Methods Choose Dates from May 7th, June 4th and July 2nd 2024 €2,250
BF Summer 1.2 Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording Session 1: May 7th – May 31st 2024 €4750
BF Summer 1.3 Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording Session 2: June 4th – June 28th 2024 €4750
BF Summer 2 Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Recording with Osteology July 2nd – August 2nd 2024 €5,050

How to Apply

Download an application form here: BAFS Student Application Form and send your completed form along with two letters of recommendation to [email protected] 

Alternatively, contact us for an application form at [email protected]

Applications are opened until March 31st 2024.