Archaeological Field Studies International

Certificate

Course Details

Course Code	SG_SARCJ_S06
Level	6
Duration	1 semester
Credits	18
Method of Delivery	Blended
Campus Locations	Sligo
Mode of Delivery	Part Time

How to Apply

Course Overview

The aim of this programme is to provide theoretical knowledge and practical experience of archaeological excavation and post-excavation analysis skills with an additional field studies element, with 5 weeks onsite in Sligo. For 2025 the course is based at the Green Fort, Sligo, and at our Archaeology Laboratory at Atlantic Technological University Sligo in the Northwest of Ireland.

The programme is made up of three modules. Online classes (2 hours per week) commence from late February 2025. By completing the theoretical aspects of the course online and in advance of the field school, students gain the maximum benefit from their time in the field. Students then attend practical sessions in Sligo in May-June 2025. By the end of the programme, students will have gained hands-on experience excavating on this fascinating medieval and post-medieval site and will understand what is involved in post-excavation analysis and how these fit into a larger research project. Students will also have a knowledge of Irish archaeology and history, with a particular focus on the landscapes of NW Ireland.

Other archaeology certificate courses you may be interested in

This certificate course will be delivered by Dr Fiona Beglane and Dr Marion Dowd.

Key Course Information

This SPA will comprise three modules, each worth 6 credits:

– Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation International 1

– Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation International 2

– Archaeology of Ireland Study Tour – Northwest of Ireland (International)

For logistical reasons the certificate is only available to students as a single block, and cannot be taken over multiple years. Students not able to attend for the five weeks as a single block should select the Cert in Excavation and Post-excavation (10 credit), Cert in Excavation and Post-excavation International (12 credit) or Cert in Introduction to Irish Archaeology (10 credit) as appropriate.

The Green Fort

The Green Fort is a bastioned or star-shaped military fort with spectacular and extensive views overlooking Sligo Town, Sligo Bay and the surrounding mountains in the north-west of Ireland. It was probably constructed in 1599 during the Nine Years War (1594-1603), on the site of an early medieval ringfort (circa 6th-10th century AD) known as Rith d Briotúcc, which is understood to mean Brittons Fort, or the fort of the two stuttering women, or the fort of the two British women. The Green Fort became a strategic defensive base during the Williamite Wars (1688-91). Initially held by the Williamite forces, it then became a Jacobite base, but was subsequently besieged and retaken by the Williamites.

Situated within the modern town of Sligo and, working with Sligo County Council, this archaeological excavation project aims to examine the role of the Green Fort in the history of the town and surrounding area and to communicate these findings to the public.

2025 will be the first year of excavation so the focus will be on understanding the dating and origin of the site as well as the nature of features identified by fieldwalking, geophysics and survey. Students will be working closely with members of the local community and with Irish-based students to begin to unpick the story of this fascinating place. They will gain experience of excavating, recording, and surveying sites, as well as post-excavation analysis. Fieldtrips will provide an insight into the archaeology of the wider area, and in the evenings, students will gain an insight into Irish culture, society, and hospitality.

Location and travel

The study tour will consist of daily fieldtrips by minibus departing from ATU Sligo. The excavation and post-excavation analysis will take place in Sligo. The excavation is within easy walking distance of Sligo town and a range of accommodation choices. Post-excavation analysis will take place at ATU Sligo, again this is walking distance from Sligo town. Students are responsible for their own transfer at the start/end of the course. Bus Eireann Expressway buses run frequently and directly between Dublin City, Dublin Airport and Sligo town. Trains run frequently and directly between Dublin City and Sligo town. Advice will be provided to students at the online sessions.

Accommodation and food

Accommodation and food are not included but suitable facilities will be recommended at the online sessions. This allows students to suit their own budget and needs, and to share accommodation if they wish to do so. Those without their own transport will need to stay within walking distance of the excavation and ATU Sligo.

Fitness and safety

Note that both the study tour and the excavation require a reasonable level of physical fitness. Students will need to be able to walk over rough ground for 500m or more without difficulty, excavation is a physical activity that requires a similar level of fitness to gardening. You should be aware that you may be outside in all weathers for extended periods.

Online classes (End-Feb to early May 2025)

Students will undertake online classes for two hours per week from the end of February until early May. These will introduce students to the history and archaeology of the Green Fort, archaeological techniques and recording. For those unable to attend the live classes, these will be recorded and students can watch these at a time to suit their own schedule.

The Study Tour (19 – 30 May 2025)

This module involves touring the spectacular landscapes of the northwest of Ireland for ten days to examine a full range of Irish archaeological field monuments and a number of visitor centres. Students will learn first-hand about Irish archaeological field monuments and their contexts in the wider landscape and build their knowledge of Irish culture through this study tour.

The Excavation and post-excavation (2 – 20 June 2025)

A topographical survey of the ‘Green Fort’ was carried out by Sam Moore and students of IT Sligo now ATU Sligo) over a number of years. In 2021 Eoin Halpin of AHC Ltd used this baseline to record the present state of the monument as part of scrub clearance works undertaken by Sligo Co. Co. Following on from this, also in 2021, Sligo Co. Co. commissioned licensed geophysical (magnetometer and resistivity) surveys of the monument, which were conducted by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACSU). The topographic and geophysical surveys have informed the excavation methodology, providing a focus for planning trench locations.

The first two weeks of the course will concentrate on excavation, while the third week will concentrate on post-excavation analysis. In the event of sustained bad weather in the first fortnight, indoor work will be undertaken, with the aim of making up lost excavation time in the third week.

Excavation

In 2025 the excavation will focus on a single 30m long trench in the interior of the fort. This will provide an insight into the structures and features that have been identified by geophysics and survey, in particular a circular anomaly in the centre of the fort.
The overall aim of the project is to investigate the nature and origin of the archaeological remains at the Green Fort and to place them in their wider cultural and landscape context. Students will contribute to this overall excavation aim through their input to the survey, excavation and recording work on site. The Green Fort is visited regularly by tourists and locals, and students will also have the opportunity to develop skills in explaining heritage to members of the public.

Post-excavation Analysis

Post-excavation analysis will take place in the Archaeology Lab at ATU Sligo. Students will undertake essential tasks such as washing artefacts and ecofacts; processing soils for specialist analysis; preparing stratigraphic matrices and reports; illustrating and photographing artefacts. They will gain an awareness of the component parts of the post excavation process and the roles played by various specialists. They will contribute material for creation of the final excavation report and ultimately work towards bringing an excavation to full publication, and the preparation of the archive for final deposition in the National Museum of Ireland.

Course Details

Year 1

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
1	Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation International 1 The aim of this module is to provide practical experience of archaeological excavation skills, with an introduction to some aspects of the post-excavation process. The module runs online for a number of sessions through the semester and then for two weeks on-site at the end of the semester. This is a 6-credit ECTS module (Equivalent to 3 Semester Credits – US), aimed at overseas students seeking transferrable credit. Learning Outcomes 1. Have a knowledge of aspects of Irish archaeology and history 2. Demonstrate awareness of and an ability to carry out key archaeological excavation and recording techniques. 3. Understand and be able to explain how an archaeological excavation is conducted.	06	Mandatory
1	Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation International 2 The aim of this module is to provide practical experience of closing an archaeological excavation and of post-excavation skills. The module runs weekly online through the Spring semester, and then for one week on-site at the end of the semester. This is a 6-credit ECTS module (Equivalent to 3 Semester Credits – US), aimed at overseas students seeking transferrable credit. Note that a co/prerequisite for this module is that the student is also registered for, or has already successfully completed the module 'Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation 1'. Learning Outcomes 1. Differentiate soil horizons and stratigraphic contexts and express these in both matrix and written formats 2. Demonstrate an awareness of the component parts of the post excavation process and the roles played by various specialists. 3. Demonstrate an ability to carry out a variety of post-excavation related tasks	06	Mandatory
1	Archaeology of Ireland Study Tour – Northwest of Ireland (International) This module involves touring the northwest of Ireland for ten days in order to examine a full range of Irish archaeological field monuments and a number of visitor centres. This course is ideally suited for any students, either with or without an archaeology background, who wish to initiate or expand their knowledge about Irish culture, landscape and archaeology. Students of this module will learn first-hand about Irish archaeological field monuments and their contexts in the wider landscape, and build their knowledge of Irish culture through this study tour. It is ideally suitable for participants who completed modules in ARCH07035 Prehistoric Ireland, from Ice Age to Iron Age: 12,500BC – AD400 and ARCH07036 The Archaeology and Architecture of Medieval Ireland 400-1550AD. Learning Outcomes 1. Outline the significantaspects of the archaeology of Co Sligo 2. Demonstrate knowledge of the principal sites visited and their landscape setting 3. Apply gained knowledge towards understanding the role of monuments types in the northwest of Ireland	06	Mandatory

Recommended Study Hours per week

2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of personal study per week.

Examination and Assessment

This programme is assessed via continuous assessment.

On-Campus Attendance Requirement

5-week block in May-June.
Note: Check programme Examination and Assessment requirements, as they may involve examinations to be taken on campus.

Progression

Graduates may progress to another Level 6 or Level 7 SPA programme. The following archaeology programmes are currently offered by ATU Sligo:

SG_SARCH_S06 , SPA Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation , L6 , ECTS 10

SG_SARCI_S06 , SPA Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation (International) , L6 , ECTS 12

SG_SARCJ_S06 , SPA Archaeological Field Studies (International), L6 , ECTS 18

SG_SINTR_S06 , SPA Introduction to Irish Archaeology , L6 , ECTS 15

SG_SPREH_S06 , SPA Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland and Europe , L6 , ECTS 15

SG_SIRIS_S06 , SPA Irish Medieval History and Archaeology , L6 , ECTS 15

SG_SINTR_S07 , SPA Introduction to Archaeological Interpretation , L7 , ECTS 15

SG_SRITU_S07 , SPA Ritual and Meaning in Archaeology , L7 , ECTS 15

SG_SBUIN_S07 , SPA Buildings Archaeology (Online), L7 , ECTS 15

SG_SBUIM_S07 , SPA Buildings Archaeology (Blended) , L7 , ECTS 15

Download a prospectus

Undergraduate Prospectus Online, Flexible & Professional Development Prospectus

Entry Requirements

This SPA is open to all qualified applicants, those with an existing Level 5, and individuals who have other relevant experience.

Fees

Total Fees EU: €4500

Further information on fees

Careers

Graduates of this SPA may find work as guides or volunteers in local museums and heritage centres; as guides on OPW sites; as General Operatives or volunteers on research excavations; and as General Operatives or volunteers on commercial excavations.

This SPA will also cater to the interested public, not desiring credits.

The cert will be of benefit to those who currently work in the national and international tourist market and wish to upskill, including tourist bus drivers/guides, those in cultural heritage tourism, those who run their own tourism companies or heritage centres, and those who working with local community groups on heritage tourism and/or heritage education.

This SPA could also be offered as a CPD course for local authorities.

Further Information

Start Date

February 2026

Who Should Apply?

This course is suitable for a wide range of people, with no previous archaeological experience necessary. It may appeal to students of archaeology, life-long learners with an interest in archaeology, those working in tourism or heritage related areas. Note that both the excavation and study tour require a reasonable level of physical fitness.