Ness of Brodgar Archaeology Field School

Location: Stenness, Mainland, Orkney, Scotland, GB

Season: July 11, 2020 to August 14, 2020

Application Deadline: December 1, 2020

Deadline Type: Contact for Details

Website: http://willamette.edu/offices/oie/postsessions/scotland.html

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Willamette University in cooperation with Orkney College, UHI

Project Director:
Scott Pike

Project Description:

Willamette University is accepting applications for the 2019 Ness of Brodgar archaeology field school. Through Willamette’s exclusive relationship with Orkney College, University of the Highlands and Islands, students will work with this award winning and internationally recognized excavation that is redefining our understanding of the Late Neolithic world in western Europe.  Each excavation season reveals new and significant information of what is currently believed to be a unique immense multiphased Late Neolithic temple complex at the Ness of Brodgar. The field school provides intensive, on-site training in archaeological methods and techniques and emphasizes a holistic and scientific approach to archaeological inquiry. In addition to daily instruction on excavation theory, technique and recovery, course lectures and fieldwork will emphasize a variety of topics including topographical and geophysical survey techniques, stratigraphy, ceramic typology, geomorphology, paleobotany, and the archaeology and geoarchaeology of the Orkney Islands. Visits to regional archaeological sites, museums and beautifull natural landscapes give students a broad cultural, physical, and historical background of the region. The Willamette program is the only credit-bearing American-based field school at this world-class excavation.

Period(s) of Occupation: Late Neolithic

Notes:
Non-Willamette students are welcomed and encouraged to apply. If you are interested in applying please contact Scott Pike at spike@willamette.edu. The project was the featured cover story for the August 2014 National Geographic magazine and will be featured in a 3-part series due to air on BBC-TV in January.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full season

Experience Required: All majors accepted. No experience required.

Room and Board Arrangements:
All field school participants will be housed at the Browns Hostel in Stromness.  The field school rents out two self-contained facilities so no other lodgers will be present.  The hostel includes a fully-stocked kitchen, wifi internet, and laundry facilities. A Co-Op Grocery store is less than a 5 minute walk from the hostel and is open until 10 pm.

Academic Credit:
One Willamette Course Credit (typically transfers as 3 or 4 semester credits) credits offered by Willamette University. Tuition is Tentatively $6,160. Refunds are anticipated if the US dollar remains high against the British Pound and/or if the field school fills its roster. .