Fieldwork Opportunities
Brown University — through the work of the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World, the Department of Anthropology and other units on campus — has a long and impressive tradition of sponsoring archaeological fieldwork. At present, faculty members in the Joukowsky Institute conduct fieldwork in Jordan, Egypt, Italy, Turkey, and the West Indies. Brown students have recently enjoyed the chance to work in places such Petra (Jordan), Abydos (Egypt), and Montserrat (West Indies).
Students interested in archaeology are strongly encouraged to think about exploring fieldwork opportunities. Students are introduced — either through more formal field schools (taken for credit) or through volunteer experiences — to key archaeological techniques and methodologies, as well as provided with an opportunity to travel and explore. Students should think about the type of experience they would like, for archaeological projects take place in numerous countries, and in regions and on sites belonging to different time periods and cultures; different projects teach different skill sets.
Information about fieldwork opportunities, both Brown-sponsored and other possibilities, is provided each year by the advisor, through a combination of e-mails and a larger meeting in late fall. Fieldwork opportunities are also frequently posted on the Joukowsky Institute's blog. Most projects accept applications in the January-April before the summer in question, but interested students are encouraged to make contact with their advisors in the fall term to begin the planning process.
To start exploring possibilities, see the web sites below:
- Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities (Global coverage)
- Past Horizons (Global coverage)
- Council for British Archaeology: Fieldwork Briefing (Principally targets Great Britain)
- Current Archaeology (Principally targets Great Britain)
- Findadig.com from the Biblical Archaeology Society (Mediterranean and European opportunities with a stress on Israel)
- Student Conservation Association (Internships and volunteering in the United States)
- Fieldwork Resources Handout (Updated 2/23/2017)
Transfer Credit for Fieldwork
In certain cases, it may be possible for undergraduate students to receive transfer credit for fieldwork experience. Generally, to receive a full credit for fieldwork, students must participate daily in a project sponsored by a college or university for a minimum of four weeks. Upon their return to Brown, students must complete the Transfer Credit Approval form, and meet with the Concentration Advisor for Archaeology and the Ancient World to discuss whether it would be appropriate to assign credit for an equivalent course at Brown.