The following press release was prepared by the Achill Archaeology Center to
announce the recent visit to Achill by a team of aspiring archaeologists from
Cornell University. This press release was printed in Mayo News March, 2007. The
team; assembled by Hanna Ulrich (Cornell University), directed by Theresa
McDonald, and lead Nick Brandon participated in excavations with the Achill
Field School over a ten day period encompassing St. Patrick’s Day March, 2007.

Also, the photo printed along with the below press release can be found in the
photo album on the AFS~Alumni website.


AMERICAN STUDENTS TO STUDY ACHILL'S HERITAGE

Ten Cornell University students, from New York State, have just
enjoyed a marvellous week, absorbed in the heritage of Achill Island.
Woken at dawn on St Patrick's Day by a lone piper, their special day
continued with archaeological fieldwork at the Deserted Village of
Slievemore, and ended with the band parade and a few pints in Dooagh.

Hosted by the Achill Archaeological Field School, its Director,
Theresa McDonald said :- "Most of the students had no previous
archaeological experience but were drawn to Achill by the range of
activities on offer at the field school and the chance to be here on
St Patrick'sDay. Over the week, they experienced a wide range of
activities – field trips, lectures and excavation. The weather may
have varied from sunshine to horizontal hail, but the students had a
great time!"

The training course was led by Nick Brannon, a leading archaeologists,
who said: - "We taught the students how to excavate and record their
discoveries, and placed their fieldwork in the context of Irish
prehistory and more modern times. The students visited Achill's
megalithic tombs, a medieval lake dwelling and a tower-house. They
handled 400 year-old pottery and learned how to take environmental
samples which provide microscopic insights into ancient life and
landscape."

Theresa McDonald summed up: - "The Field School has hosted several
American university groups over the years, two of whom will again
return to the school in 2007. The students are always lively, keen to
learn and welcomed on Achill. The Cornell group were accompanied by
Hanna Ullrich, a former student of the school who subsequently did her
Masters thesis on a site at Slievemore, using phosphates to determine
occupation levels. Hanna now plans to do her PhD. at an Irish
university and will be returning to the feild school as a Supervisor
this summer. Also accompaning the Cornell group was Erica Stupp who
is completing her Masters thesis on GIS applications in archaeology at
Cornell. We know that the Cornell students will have many happy and
unique memories of their time here, and we expect some of them to
return to a place which has captured their imagination!"

For further information on the Field School's activities, contact the
Achill Archaeological Field School, Dooagh, County Mayo (353-98-43564)
or visit the website at www.achill-fieldschool.com


Picture caption – Cornell University students at their excavations at
the Deserted Village on Slievemore, Achill Island (photo:AFS)