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Dig the Neolithic: Archaeology Field School (2013)

APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED FOR WILLAMETTE STUDENTS!  NON-WILLAMETTE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY ON A SPACE AVAILABLE BASIS, BUT ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY SOON FOR BEST CHANCE OF BEING ADMITTED.  STUDENTS FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES MUST USE THE SAME APPLICATION PROCESS OUTLINED BELOW.

Location:  Ness of Brodgar, Orkney Islands, Scotland   

Professor:  Scott Pike, Associate Professor of Environmental and Earth Science

Credit:  Earns 1.0 cr. of ARCH 355, Archaeology Field School or for students who have already taken ARCH 355, 1.0 cr. of ARCH 498, Advanced Archaeology Field School (pending course approvals).

Dates:  Saturday, July 20, 2013 through Saturday, August 17, 2013.

Application Deadline:  NON-WILLAMETTE STUDENTS ARE STILL WELCOME TO APPLY!!  [Non-WU students should mail to International Education, Willamette University, 900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301].  Students wishing to apply must use the common study abroad application (including the supplementary materials: study abroad statement, transcripts from all universities attended, faculty recommendation, personal recommendation, and advisor form). 

Non-WU students must also use this application.  If you are a non-WU student applying, please skip the transcript request form and have your home university (AND any other universities you've attended) send an official transcript to:  International Education, Willamette University, 900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301.  Off campus applicants should also use this address for mailing the application to WU for evaluation and consideration.  The transcripts must arrive by the application deadline [WE SUGGEST NON-WU STUDENTS APPLY BY FEBRUARY 28, 2013 FOR BEST CHANCE OF ADMISSION] for full consideration.

Costs:  $4,500 for WU students ($4,700 for non-WU students) based on 12 people.  The program cost includes WU tuition, lodging, local transportation and ferry fees, travel insurance, museum fees and field trips.  The program cost DOES NOT include meals so that students can economize as they choose with a suggested budget of $750 for food.  Transportation to and from the island is NOT included (est. $2,000).

Scholarships:  Willamette University students who are interested in participating in the field school are encouraged to apply to the Center for Ancient Studies and Archaeology Student Field School Grants that provide funding ($3,000) toward the cost of the program and travel to and from the site.

Information Session: Monday, October 29th at 4 p.m. in Collins 323

The Willamette University Archaeology Field School offers students the exciting opportunity to experience The Heart of neolithic Orkney (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) first hand.  Students from WU will work with the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology as it unearths a "Neolithic cathedral" on the Ness of Brodgar.  This excavation is redefining the understanding of the Neolithic World and was listed by the Archaeological Institute of America as one of the tope 15 "most significant discoveries of 2009."

Are you interested in learning more?  The site and WU's program have been featured in a number of places!

• More program information can be found at http://www.willamette.edu/centers/casa/archaeology_field_school/ and http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/nessofbrodgar/.
• The program has been featured on WU websites and publications:  WU website (here) and Spring 2012 edition of the Scene magazine (here).
• NEW!! February 2013 feature on PBS (here).
• The Ness of Brodgar was featured in the Jan/Feb 2013 edition of Archaeology magazine, linked here.
• A 12-minute video of images from the site is now available for viewing here.
• An October 6, 2012 Guardian/Observer article "Neolithic discovery: why Orkney is the centre of ancient Britain" here.  Also in the Observer, here.
• The site was also featured in National Geographic News in late January 2012, here.

For more information, contact Scott Pike (spike@willamette.edu) or oieadvising@willamette.edu.