Whilst archaeological excavation is the main activity of the school, there is so much more going on, and you will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of specialist activities, many of which are included in the base programme. Some of these activities will be on-going throughout the season (such as field trips), but others may be undertaken only once or twice, depending on how the season pans out. In planning these activities, we take cognisance of the interests of our students, so be sure to state your specific interests at the time of booking. S01 Field Trips / Tours The programme will include weekly expert led tours of famous sites such as the Trim Castle, The Boyne Valley Heritage Centre, Mellifont Abbey, Tara, and a host of hidden gems such as Fourknocks. S02 Archaeological Field Survey _Finola O'Carroll MA MIAI There will be a series of small group field trips during the course of the season to assess new potential archaeological and historical sites within the Boyne Valley. Always interesting, at times ground breaking, these trips are aimed at identifying the next foci of the field schools research. The trips are very popular and we whilst we try to facilitate everyone that is interested, we recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment.     S03 Technical Field Survey_Chiara Chiriotti BA Hons & Niall Lynch The basic practices of field survey are included in the day-to-day teaching. We operate on a ‘first-principals’ basis, as it is all too easy to unquestioningly trust the technical wizardry that is increasingly available to the field archaeologist. However, we do have a lot of gadgets, and if you are interested in GPS surveying, topographical survey, photogrammetry, and other nerdy things, then we will be operating small group sessions led by our survey team in which you will learn how to operate and interpret the latest toys. S04 Geophysical Survey_Ian Elliott MA MSc One of the most powerful tools available to the archaeologist today, we have successfully utilised a variety of archaeo-geophysical survey techniques to enhance the results of our field survey. For example, geophysical survey successfully led us to the discovery of the first structures at Bective Abbey, and last season’s geophysical survey at Rath Maeve on the Hill of Tara produced breathtaking results which will lead our further investigations. Another popular activity, we advise you to book early.     S05 Architectural Survey_Aislinn Collins MA PGDip DipEIAMgt MIAI Having been part of the team that undertook the ‘Architectural Heritage Inventory of County Meath’, architectural heritage remains an integral part of our research. There are some truly amazing architectural wonders to be seen, not least at Bective Abbey. Our resident architectural heritage expert will lead small group study sessions on site to unravel the history told in the fabric of the buildings. S06 Geology EurGeol_Dr Stephen Mandal MIAI PGeo Underneath the archaeology, there are rocks, and the rocks have stories to tell too. From the formation of the landscape to the sourcing of specific stone types for the manufacture of tools and for building, geology has an important role to play in understanding all archaeological sites. An integral component of the research programme, small group modules will be run during the course of the season.   S07 Underwater Archaeology_Aisling Collins MA The River Boyne has been a focus of human activity from earliest prehistoric times, and is the central focus of our research programme. The archaeological potential of the river itself is hugely important. From fording points to votive deposition, the archaeological potential in the river is a fascinating study in itself. S08 Post-Excavation & Specialist Analysis_Milica Rajic MA Post-excavation processing, recording and analysis of finds and samples will be on-going throughout the field season, and you will have the opportunity to participate in these processes and learn from our post-excavation manager. We have a number of in-house specialists, including geology, pottery and osteoarchaeology, and have a panel of other specialists on board assisting us with the research programme.     S09 Computer Applications in Archaeology_Chiara Chiriotti BA Hons & Gianmarco Cattari BA Hons The field school has developed a range of the latest techniques for interpreting the site, including a tailor made Geographical Information Systems (GIS) tool (SPADA), 3-D modelling and Computer Generated Image (CGI) reconstructions. These applications will be on-going live throughout the season, and students will be allowed to participate in these works. S10 Technical Terminology_Gianmarco Cattari BA Hons Aimed at students whose first language is not English, we run a one-day specialist module introducing the project and the English language technical terminology used in archaeology. In our experience this is a hugely helpful introductory course for students, preparing them for the terms that are specific to archaeology in English speaking countries and Ireland in particular.