A warm hello to all AFS alumni from Achill!

We thought the you all might find the 2008 AFS press release fun to
read. Hope all is well with each and every one of you.

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ACHILL ARCHAEOLOGY STUDENTS ARRIVE



A group of American and Canadian students have arrived on Achill
Island, to study Ireland's heritage and excavate at the Deserted
Village of Slievemore.



Hosted by the Achill Archaeological Field School, its Director,
Theresa McDonald explained: - "This is an intensive study course for
the students, with lectures, field trips and training in `digging'
and surveying a range of sites at Slievemore and the Deserted
Village."



The training course is led by Nick Brannon, one of Ireland's leading
archaeologists, who said: - "The students' studies cover thousands of
years of Irish archaeology, from the Mesolithic to the 20th century.
They get hands-on experience of the `finds' from the ongoing
excavations, and they will study environmental materials which
illuminate Achill's past climates. The students learn surveying and
excavation techniques, how to analyse buildings in the Deserted
Village, and how to share their knowledge and enjoyment with the many
visitors to the site." Megan Cullinan, M.A. a former student of
the Field School, ably assists Nick and they will be joined by John
Bennett from Boston University, USA who for the past number of years
has been investigating a group of hut sites at Slievemore and by Dr.
Scott Johnston who initially attended the Field School in 2006. Our
new Project Archaeologist, Stuart Rathbone, BSc., M.A. will join the
team in early June 2008.



Theresa McDonald said: - "Beginning in 1991, our long-established
record of high archaeological standards, and the `Achill experience',
means that this summer's Field School will also welcome students from
Sweden, Poland, Romania, Italy, England and Australia. Living here on
Achill will introduce them to the world of archaeology and give them
life-long memories of island life."



The Field School students will be joined by other groups later on
this summer who have enrolled for several of the specialised
Continuous Professional Development courses now on offer by the Field
School – Introduction to Digital Survey & Mapping, GIS, Ceramics
Identification, Landscape & Building Survey, Introduction to Maritime
Archaeology and Environmental Archaeology.



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

Achill Field School

Evening Lecture Programme 2008

Tuesday May 27th, Dr. James Lyttleton, University College, Cork.

" The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland"



Tuesday June 3rd, Professor Michael O'Connell,

Dept. of Botany, National University of Ireland at Galway.

"Medieval Ireland and human impact: new perspectives from a
palaeoecological research"



Tuesday June 10th, Thaddeus Breen. Irish Archaeology.

"Variety and Challenge in Contract Archaeology"



Tuesday June 17th , Darina Tully, NAS

"The Skin Boat Tradition in Ireland & Achill"



Tuesday, June 24th TBA



Tuesday, July 1st, No Lecture – World Archaeology Conference, UCD
Dublin



Tuesday July 8th, Eoin Halpin, ADS

"The Sands of Time. Caraun Point. Achill and the Archaeology of Irish
Machair Landscapes"



Tuesday July 15th, Dr. Cormac McSparron

"The dating of Early Neolithic Settlement in
Ireland"



Tuesday July 29th, Stuart Rathbone,

Achill Archaeological Field School

TBA



Tuesday 5th August, Theresa McDonald,

Achill Archaeological Field School

"The Medlycott Estate in the Barony of Burrishoole"



Tuesday 12th August, Dr. Audrey Horning,

University of Leicester

"Archaeology of Plantation-period Ireland: a view from the Ulster
alehouse"