Our annual Glencoe Field School is led by a team of co-directors including Prof Michael Given, Dr Gareth Beale, Dr Nicole Smith, Lizzie Robertson, Derek Alexander and Dr Edward Stewart and provides an important opportunity for undergraduate archaeology students to explore the intersection of archaeological theory and practice in the context of Highland archaeology. Our students are exposed through the field school to excavation, landscape survey and creative media design through. Our students also have the opportunity in the field to learn from our projects specialists in pottery, glass, soil science and numismatics, as well as partners working in museum studies, outdoor education and heritage management. We aim to equip our graduates to work in the diverse roles of the archaeology and hertage sectors, and to become reflective, creative and activist researchers and practitioners.
Each year level 2 students at the University of Glasgow have the opportunity to apply to this fully funded field school programme.
In 2023 we explored the Summerhouse of the MacDonald of Glencoe chiefs in the 17th century in Gleann Leac na Muidhe.
In 2024 we explored the settlement of Achnacon, or ‘field of the dogs’, to investigate the management of this settlement and the connections of its community. We returned in 2025 to continue our investigations at this site.
Students from other institutions are welcome to participate in our field work activities as volunteers, and we do our best to support them to participate in pedagogical sessions with our project team and specialists. Unfortunately we cannot support travel or accommodation costs for non-UofG students. Previously we have been joined by students from the University of the Highlands and Islands, the University of Aberdeen, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Stirling, the University of Durham, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Ruhr University Bochum.
