CCCU International Field School
Launching for 2025 - we are welcoming international students to join our field school to train on a Romano-British site in the East Sussex Countryside.
No Experience Required.
Culver Archaeological Project is a long-standing research excavation of a rural Romano-British settlement in Barcombe, East Sussex. Working in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), we offer comprehensive archaeological training. Participation in the field school includes:
2 weeks in class training in Canterbury, 2 weeks of hands-on training on-site in Sussex and 2 weeks supervised excavation.
Training includes site formation processes, excavation and recording, environmental sampling, finds processing, geophysical survey, photography and more!
“Culver is the perfect training site to experience British Archaeology and to prepare for a career in Archaeology.”
— Blake, CCCU Alumni
2025 Fees £3360
Apply online by 1 March 2025.
19 May- 27 June.
Two weeks taught component in Canterbury
Two weeks training on site
Two weeks of supervised excavation experience
Trips to local archaeological sites with experts
Hands on Post-Excavation processing experience
Equipment and tools, including your own trowel
Accommodation in Canterbury
Campsite Accommodation at Bridge Farm
Access to on site showers, kitchen, lounge and clothes washing facilities.
Does not include airfare, transport to/from airports or accident insurance.
The teaching team at CCCU
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Dr Ellie Williams
Reader in Osteology
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Dr Jay Ingate
Senior Lecturer in Roman Archaeology
Course Director
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Lisa Duffy
Field Work Technician
Course Lead
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Dr Heidi Stoner
Senior Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology
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Dr Lindsey Büster
Senior Lecturer in Prehistoric Archaeology
Week 1: Introduction to British Archaeology
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During your first week you arrive in Historic Canterbury and attend classes from CCCU's archaeology team on our city centre campus based on the UNESCO World Heritage site. You will be given guided walking tours of the City by experts to help you understand the context of the Historic city.
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Sessions may include:
Introduction to British Archaeology: History, Legal Frameworks, and Careers.
Roman Britain
Osteology
ZooArch
The Prehistoric Landscape
Medieval Canterbury
Week 2 and 3: Field School
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Join CCCU Students on site for fieldwork training learning new skills in both classroom-type sessions and during hands-on practical training exercises. This course is equivalent to that received by undergraduate students completing degree-level courses at university and is provided by a range of different specialists. The aim is to give participants a good overview of different field methods used in archaeology, whilst also engaging them in current research.
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We cover the following techniques/skills (subject to weather conditions and availability):
Site health and safety
Excavation techniques
Magnetometry survey
Resistivity survey
Use of 'total station' and 'dumpy' level
Excavation recording
Plan drawing
Section drawing
Site formation
Environmental archaeology
Finds processing
Archaeological photography
Site grid set-up
Standing vernacular building recording
Week 4 and 5: Excavation
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You will spend two weeks practicing and honing the skills you have acquired on an active rural Romano-British Settlement site in the East Sussex Country side.
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These two weeks are mainly spent in the field, putting these new skills into practice and working alongside volunteers, students and experienced excavators to contribute to the research project. There is always plenty of work for volunteers, both in the field for those keen to dig and in finds processing. We sometimes have environmental processing work available for volunteers who want to try their hand at flotation or residue sorting.
Week 6: Exploring Kent
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You will return to Canterbury for your final week with the team back at CCCU to complete your field experiences.
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During this week we will have workshops on employability and CV writing, as well as opportunities to connect with professional contacts. Additionally we will have opportunities to explore the wider world of Kentish Archaeology by visiting a range of sites as a group. Sites may include: Dover Castle, Richborough Roman Fort, Reculver towers, Bigbury Hillfort.
