School of Social Science

ARCS2060 Archaeology Field School

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST from Undergraduate students studying Archaeology at the School of Social Science will open in 2026.
Applications for cross-institutional study for students from other Australian universities will be considered. 

The one-week field school will involve a combination of academic study and field practice. Providing training in landscape archaeology, it will focus on understanding how people have engaged with landscapes over the past, and how these landscapes have been modified through natural and cultural processes. Students will develop field and investigative skills that will enable them to record and interpret the archaeological record and to ultimately tell the story of the landscape. An important part of the project is learning how to write a site report and gaining experience working with and learning from Aboriginal people in the field. These are excellent skills to develop for anyone wishing to work in contract archaeology.

FEES and COSTS:

In addition to usual tuition fees, Students will be required to pay an additional fee, to be confirmed. This fee will cover logistical costs such as transport to and from the site, accommodation and some meals. Enrolment in the course will only be facilitated once final payment is made.  

Students need to provide their own dinners, stationery (pens, pencil, ruler), appropriate outdoor wear for hiking and field work - including for wet weather (e.g., rainjacket) – sturdy closed-in walking shoes (steel caps are not required), hats, sun block, water bottles.

FOOD & ACCOMMODATION:

Some meals, notably breakfast and lunch will be provided. Students will be required to provide their own evening meal.

TRANSPORT:

Travel between The University of Queensland and the field site will be arranged by the School of Social Science. 

Compulsory Seminars at St Lucia campus in July

There will be pre departure seminars that all students will be required to attend in order to have the skills required to successfully complete the field work. These seminars will be on campus; it is not possible to attend these workshops via zoom.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Places are capped at 24 students. This webpage will be updated with the EOI process and closing dates in 2026. 

Students must also have completed the course pre-requisites of ARCA1000, ARCS1001 and 4 units (#4) of 2nd level archaeology (ARCA/ARCS) courses.

Priority will be given to:

  1. final year students studying the BA Extended Major in Archaeology;

  2. second year students studying any Archaeology plan;

  3. all other students.

Please be aware the Field Trip work is physically demanding, involving hiking through thick vegetation to the site each day.  Students should have a good level of fitness to ensure full participation in the field work. Groupwork and teamwork is also a critical requirement of this course.