Benefit from 30 years of teaching experience.
Explore over 5,000 years of settlement.
Earn up to 9 semester credits.
Do you want to learn to dig in one of Ireland’s most spectacular archaeological landscapes?
Located on Achill Island off Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast, the Achill Archaeological Field School is a study abroad experience like no other.
Explore over 5,000 years of settlement and help extend our 30+ years long project investigating this dramatic coastal habitat.
The 2024 excavation will continue our focus on two drystone dwellings and a shell midden at Caruan Point, on the northern coast of Achill Island. Prior work at this site uncovered artefacts dating to the 8th – 10th Century era.
Previous excavations on the site recovered a quantity of artefacts that included glass and pottery, along with animal bone and shellfish remains. One unexpected discovery was the presence of a probable Early-Medieval ringfort immediately to the west of our excavation. Habitation deposits associated with this site were evident beneath the post-medieval houses and some artefacts of 8th to 10th century date were recovered.
Learn excavation skills while exploring this fascinating site. Digs nearby have yielded artefacts ranging from clay pipes to a neolithic polished stone axe and a bronze age carved stone head.
The daily project excavation is supplemented with weekly field trips to some of the numerous other sites of archaeological interest on Achill Island.
Our accredited excavation tuition offers up to 9 semester credit hours (18 ECTS) per course.
Our courses are accredited with the University of Galway.
The quality of our tuition is reflected in the fact we run trainee supervisor courses.
Semester credits from our courses are accepted at hundreds of universities worldwide.
We have been welcoming, hosting and educating international students for more than three decades.
We keep the tutor-student ratio low to ensure student welfare and the highest quality of tuition.
Achill Island is one of the most popular destinations on Ireland’s rugged Wild Atlantic Way.
Choose from a 6 week accredited excavation course, or a one week introductory course.
Our accredited courses offer up to 9 semester credits from the University of Galway.
Accommodation and classroom tuition take place in the same purpose-built campus.
Get all our news and stories from our Blog. Keep up to date with recent digs and finds, new publications, and in-depth reports from our archaeological excavations on Achill Island.
“ I first attended the Achill Archaeological Field School in 2015 as a student. The experience was so spectacular that I returned in 2016 as a Trainee Supervisor. This experience reaffirmed my love of archaeology, Ireland, and academic pursuits.
They teach each aspect of the field experience and I when offered an opportunity to work as a Supervisor during the summer of 2018, I jumped at it and had a very rewarding experience, so much so that I am planning a return to the AAFS in 2019. Who wants to join me? “
Student