Archaeology Opportunities
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Opportunities
There are multiple opportunities for students interested in archaeology.
The Public Archaeology Institute invites rising 9th through 12th graders to work alongside archaeologists. The department also collaborates with Williamsburg & Mary to offer field schools. Keep reading to learn more about the programs we offer and how to apply.
William & Mary Students
For more than 30 years, College of William and Mary students have learned excavation techniques and recording, as well as the identification of common eighteenth-century artifacts at Colonial Williamsburg field schools.
Archaeological Conservation
Delve into the theory and technology behind preserving a century-old archaeological collection. Learn from Colonial Williamsburg’s conservator of archaeological materials about how artifacts age, deteriorate, and are safeguarded for generations to come. 3 Credits
Material Culture Practicum
Examine and study real artifacts from the Bray School and other Colonial Williamsburg sites in this museum-based practicum. Learn directly from Colonial Williamsburg curatorial staff as you develop skills in artifact identification, evaluation, and interpretation within a professional collections setting. 3 Credits.
Contact Eric Schweickart at [email protected] to learn more.
Public Archaeology Institute
The 2025 Public Archaeology Institute (PAI) is a unique program that invites students, entering grades 9-12, to work alongside archaeologists in the field and explore the connections between documentary and archeological evidence, and how they work together to convey a unified interpretation in a public history setting.
Participants of the PAI will receive approximately eight hours of “class time,” during which a history of Custis Square and Williamsburg’s Public Hospital will be examined along various artifact types, including ceramics, architectural materials, faunal remains, and small finds. Students will spend the remainder of the week practicing archaeological field methods, site recording, and interpretation of findings through hands-on field work and speaking with visitors. Each session will conclude with a site tour showcase, in which each PAI participant will guide one archaeological site tour. Student-guided tours will share the site’s history, project objectives, and observations made in the field with visitors, family members, and friends.
This program is offered free of charge to accepted students.
To learn more about the Public Archeology Institute, contact Crystal Castleberry, Public Archaeologist, at [email protected].
