2018 Medieval Archaeology Field School in Belgium

Location: Walhain, BE

Season: June 30, 2018 to July 28, 2018

Application Deadline: February 14, 2018

Deadline Type: Contact for details

Website: https://castlewalhain.wordpress.com/

Program Type:
Field school

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
Eastern Illinois University

Project Director:
Bailey Young

Project Description:

The Walhain-St-Paul Program is recruiting both undergrad and grad students for the 2018 season of Eastern Illinois University’s Summer Archaeology in Belgium Program!  The dates are June 30-July 28, 2018.

Begun in 1998, the program is headed by Dr. Bailey Young, Distinguished Professor of History at EIU, and centers on the excavation of Walhain Castle, near our partner university, the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL). American students work alongside UCL students under the overal direction of the Centre de Recherches Archeologiques Nationales (CRAN), based at UCL and directed by Professor Laurent Verslype.

Students will spend most days excavating early modern as well as medieval remains at the idyllic ruins of Castle Walhain, which was begun in 1198. Additional field school components include artifact handling and documentation as well as lectures by experts in medieval and agricultural history, European archaeology, material culture, and GIS. Students will also take guided field trips that introduce them to the larger cultural context going back to Roman Belgica.

Students earn four credits awarded as they prefer in either History or Earth Sciences (Honors students have special Honors credit) as well as a field school certificate. The course is open to all undergraduate and graduate students in good standing, and teams are typically made up of students from a variety of institutions. There are no prerequisites, and no previous background in archaeology is required. All majors are welcome. All work is done in English, and although we will be in the French-speaking part of Belgium, no language background is required. 

The cost of the program in 2018, which includes tuition and fees, food, and lodging – but not overseas airfare – is $6,159. Please notify Dr. Young of your interest by January 31, or as soon as possible.

Please help us spread the word about this unique and exciting project. Thanks so much! Hope to see you at the castle!

Period(s) of Occupation: Medieval to Early Modern

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Student dorms at Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) Cost: $6,159

Academic Credit:
Students earn four credits awarded as they prefer in either History or Earth Sciences (Honors students have special Honors credit) as well as a field school certificate credits offered by Eastern Illinois University. Tuition is The cost of the program in 2018, which includes tuition and fees, food, and lodging - but not overseas airfare - is $6,159.