What is an Archaeology Field School?

Archaeology is a popular academic discipline. In the U.S., archaeology is usually taught within Anthropology or Classics Departments. Archaeology is considered the most scientific discipline within the Social Sciences and includes the use of a broad range of technologies, sophisticated instruments, cutting edge software and manual field work. Theory and methods are taught in the classroom. But research is done in the field, where no two sites are alike. Practitioners need to understand how to apply theory and methods to specific sites and research questions and the discipline, therefore, has two complementary parts – classwork and field work.

Most positions in archaeology – whether in academia, government or the private sector – require practitioners to have a minimum of a BA/BS degree and a field school. A field school is where students learn the basics of field work and the way archaeologists implement methods and theory in practice. To become a professional archaeologist, students need to attend at least one field school. There are about 150 field schools offered to U.S. students each year (although the number may fluctuate).