The Blackfriary Archaeology Field School is part of the award-winning Blackfriary Community Heritage and Archaeology Project (BCHAP) in the town of Trim, County Meath, Ireland. Focusing on the buried remains of the 13th century AD/CE Dominican friary and associated graveyard, the field school is suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds including archaeology, history, anthropology, and forensics – and for students looking for a unique study abroad experience. As participants in a public archaeology project, students are actively engaged with our outreach activities on site. They are also housed with families in Trim, allowing them to integrate with the local community.

We are offering three courses in summer 2025 (BAFS Summer courses).

  • A two-week introductory course runs anytime from June 3rd – August 1st, 2025.
  • A 4-week course which combines the introductory course with a 2-week advanced course, running from June 3rd – June 27th, 2025.
  • A five-week course, from July 1st – August 1st, 2025, which has a significant bioarchaeology component taught by Dr. Rachel Scott of DePaul University, Chicago focusing especially on analysis of the significant human remains excavated at Black Friary.

Both give training in excavation and post-excavation methods. The four- and five-week courses are fully accredited through DkIT. Six semester credits (12.5 ECT credits) are offered for the four-week course and 7 -8 (15 ECTs credits) for the five-week course.

https://www.dkit.ie/courses/school-of-business-and-humanities/humanities/certificate-in-archaeological-excavation-and-recording.html

https://www.dkit.ie/courses/school-of-business-and-humanities/humanities/certificate-in-archaeological-excavation-and-recording-with-osteology.html

For students with previous field and/or lab experience, we offer internships for a minimum of six weeks in the areas of excavation, post-excavation, and community outreach, https://bafs.ie/internships/