Overview
Explore the burial customs of early medieval Britain as you excavate an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in the countryside of East Kent. This mortuary archaeology field school centers on the excavation of 5th-7th century graves, many still filled with weapons and intricate jewelry that reveal connections stretching from Scandinavia to Byzantium. The site has already drawn international attention, and our ongoing work will shed more light on a fascinating period of British history marked by migration, social turmoil, and plague.
Working alongside experienced archaeologists and local heritage associations, you will learn how to identify graves, excavate human remains with care, recover fragile artifacts, and record burials using a range of methods. The final week of the program transitions to post-excavation work at the University of Lancashire lab, where you will clean and process the season’s finds. By the end of the program, you will have developed deep practical experience in funerary archaeology and experience with the technical skills required for a career in archaeology and beyond.
Field school highlights:
- Excavate a well preserved, fully furnished early medieval cemetery with treasure finds.
- Build a well-rounded skillset in funerary archaeology including excavation, photogrammetry, drone and GPS survey, sample sieving, and working with human remains.
- Engage with the local Kent community and explore historic sites across England, with Sundays free to visit Canterbury, Dover, London, and more.
| Course Details | |
|---|---|
| Course Dates | June 17 – July 18, 2026 |
| Course Type | Field archaeology |
| Instructors | Prof. Duncan Sayer, Dr. Andrew Richardson |
| Credits* | 8 semester (12 quarter) – anticipated |
| Apply By | April 1 |
| Fees Due By | April 15 |
| Program Fees | (2026) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,250 |
| Transcript Fee* | $350 |
| Health & Evacuation Insurance | $135 |
| Room (Meals not included) | $1,500 |
| TOTAL: | $7,235 |
*Please email admissions@ifrglobal.org for any application issues.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until program fills or final deadline passes.
Instructors
The directors welcome emails and inquiries about the research elements of this project. More general information (tuition, health insurance, and payment schedule) can be found under the ‘Students’ tab above. Any further questions may be addressed to IFR staff. Additional details about research, course schedule, travel, accommodation, and safety can be found on the syllabus. Contacting the directors or the IFR office is encouraged and appreciated. It may help you determine if this field school is a good fit for you.
Testimonials
This is a new IFR field school. No student testimonials are available at this time.
Payment & Student Fees
Application Fee: There is a $45 fee to submit an online application.
Deposit Payment: A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 3 weeks of program acceptance in order to secure your place. The remainder of your program fees are due by the deadline indicated under “Course Details”.
*Transcript Fee & Academic Credit Opt Out: If you wish to participate in an IFR field school without earning academic credits, you will not be charged a transcript fee.
For more information about payment, fees, and policies, please see details under our Payment & Finances and Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy pages.
Accommodations
This program splits its time between the town of Preston and the excavation site in Kent, so there are 2 types of accommodations.
While in Preston, you’ll stay in a University residence hall, and during your time excavating in Kent, you’ll be in shared cottages. Both accommodations will have full kitchens, laundry facilities, communal areas, and offer a mix of single and double rooms.
Meals: are NOT provided on this program and you should plan to grocery shop and cook your own meals. In Preston you’ll be within walking distance of a grocery store and restaurants. While in the field, the program will arrange group trips to the grocery store.
Since meals are self-catered, this program is able to accommodate most special diets and allergies.
Travel Info
Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and various other factors may force the cancellation or alteration of a field school. IFR recommends students only purchase airline tickets that are fully refundable and consider travel insurance in case a program or travel plans must change for any reason.
General information for this program is below, but keep in mind we will discuss any updated travel information and regulations during the required program orientation, which could affect travel plans.
This program begins and ends in the town of Preston, and you can choose to arrive at the Preston train station or the Manchester airport, depending on which most the makes sense for your place of departure. Program staff will meet students at either, and will coordinate logistics closer to the program start date.
You may be able to fly directly to Manchester airport (MAN), or you may find it easier to arrive to London Heathrow (LHR) and then take a train from London to Preston, or book a separate flight from LHR to MAN.
For departures, you can depart from Manchester airport or the Preston train station.