Institute for Field Research
IFR is now accepting applications for our exciting lineup of Summer 2026 archaeology field schools:
Arkansas | Fayetteville Curation (June 14-July 17, 2026)
Join an award-winning field school that’s training the next generation of professionals in curation, museum studies, and archaeological collections management. Based at the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s collections facility in Fayetteville, this four week program gives you the rare opportunity to work directly with archaeological artifacts and documents while contributing to a statewide initiative to modernize and digitize collections. You’ll help rehabilitate and document materials from a 1990s excavation in southwest Arkansas, including artifacts from the Caddo Nation and earlier occupations. Students not only gain experience in preserving, cataloging, and sharing archaeological resources but also learn from Caddo Nation representatives firsthand about the ethical responsibilities of archaeological work.
Program details: https://t2m.io/QdKAu964
Illinois | Cahokia Excavation (May 20-June 24, 2026)
Explore Cahokia, a once-thriving Indigenous city that rose to prominence between A.D. 1050-1350 in present-day Illinois. Situated in the American Bottom region near St. Louis, Cahokia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico. You’ll be part of a larger research project investigating how peripheral neighborhoods contributed to Cahokia’s development, offering a rare opportunity to explore the social and cultural dynamics that shaped this medieval city. This immersive archaeological fieldwork program allows students to delve into excavation, mapping, and lab work, gaining essential skills in archaeological practice while examining Cahokia’s urban landscape and its enduring historical impact.
Program details: https://t2m.io/eA8E9mzi
Illinois | Champaign Curation (June 1-July 11, 2026)
This RPA-certified field school offers the rare opportunity to gain both excavation and curation experience in a single program, giving you a full-circle perspective on archaeological collections. You’ll begin with two weeks of excavations at a late pre-contact Mississippian site near Bloomington-Normal, then transition to the Illinois State Archaeological Survey in Champaign-Urbana, home to one of the largest archaeological collections in the Midwest. Working directly with materials that span the entirety of human occupation in Illinois, you’ll develop excavation skills, learn best practices in curation and preservation, and explore how collections are made accessible for outreach, education, research, and stakeholder communities.
Program details: https://t2m.io/hkxZZxyi
Illinois | Noble-Wieting Excavation (June 1- July 10, 2026)
This program investigates the 13th-15th century Noble-Wieting site in Illinois, where the Langford and Mississippian cultural groups formed a unique shared community during an era of climate stress, migration, and social upheaval. As a participant in this archaeology field school, you’ll help uncover new insights about daily life at this remarkable settlement during a time of uncertainty. Led by the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) and Illinois State University, this project works closely with 18 Tribal Nations who help guide the research and long-term preservation goals for the site. You’ll gain hands-on experience in essential archaeological field skills while learning how to conduct collaborative research that is responsible to descendant communities.
Program details: https://t2m.io/FdR5yuUw
About IFR Field Schools
All IFR field schools are accredited through Connecticut College, include housing and some meals (depending on program), and incorporate field trips and enrichment activities. Applications are welcome on a rolling basis until programs are filled, but for the best chance of securing a spot in your preferred field school, you are encouraged to apply by the February 1st priority deadline.
Apply now | Request Info | Questions? Email admissions@ifrglobal.org
