Want to explore some historical cultures and engage in hands-on discovery? These archaeology programs for high school students offer options for excavation and study both in the United States and abroad. Whether you're looking for a week-long discovery program or a month of archaeological research, there's a program that fits your interests and schedule.
1. High School Field School – Centre for American Archaeology (CAA)
A summer field school offering hands-on archaeological research experience for teens, working alongside professional archaeologists.
Site & Research Focus:
Excavation at the German Site (Late Woodland/Jersey Bluff Phase, 800–1200 CE) in the Crawford Creek valley, Illinois, focusing on house basins, storage/refuse pits, and domestic artifacts to understand Late Woodland people.
Program Activities:
Fieldwork: Excavation, mapping, measuring, soil description, flotation sampling
Lab work: Artifact identification, washing, analysis
Evening lectures and activities with archaeologists
Outdoor activities and group discussions
Location: Kampsville, Illinois, USA
Program Dates: June 15 – July 12, 2025 (1–4-week sessions, choose your weeks)
Cost: $950 (1 week), $1,875 (2 weeks), $2,800 (3 weeks), $3,700 (4 weeks); scholarships available
Eligibility: Ages 13–17 (no prior experience required)
Deadline: Registration closes one week before each session; rolling admissions
2. Roman Fortress Pulpon Field School (Archaeospain)
A hands-on archaeological experience at a major Roman site in Spain, blending fieldwork, classroom, and lab learning.
Site & Research Focus:
Excavation of a Roman fortress at Pulpon, focusing on Roman military and civilian life, architecture, and artifacts.
Program Activities:
Archaeological excavation and recording
Artifact processing and analysis
Workshops on ancient technology
Lectures on Roman history and archaeology
Location: Carrascosa del Campo, Cuenca, Spain
Program Dates: June 9 – August 31, 2025 (three sessions: June 9–27, June 30–July 18, July 28–August 15)
Cost: See program website for details
Eligibility: High school students (contact for age specifics)
Deadline: June 10, 2025; rolling admissions
3. Archaeology Summer Scholars – University of Notre Dame
A pre-college program integrating fieldwork, lab analysis, and classroom study on Notre Dame’s historic campus.
Site & Research Focus:
The Old College site, with layers from prehistoric Native American communities and early Catholic missionaries, explores early American and Native American histories.
Program Activities:
Field excavation and site mapping
Laboratory work with artifacts
Lectures on archaeological theory and methods
Career exploration in archaeology
Location: Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
Program Dates: June 29 – July 13, 2025
Cost: $4,425 (tuition, housing, activities) + $300 enrollment fee + $60 application fee; need-based scholarships available
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (must be at least 16 by August 1, 2025)
Deadline: February 20, 2025
4. UMass Amherst Pre-College: Bioarchaeology & Forensic Anthropology Field School
A program focused on biological anthropology’s application in legal and historical contexts, emphasizing forensic science and skeletal analysis.
Site & Research Focus:
Simulated crime scenes and burial excavations using plastic skeletons, with collaboration from UMass Chan Medical School.
Program Activities:
Excavation practice and skeletal analysis
Lab sessions identifying bones, trauma, and disease
Lectures from experts in anthropology, law, and archaeology
Simulated crime scene investigation
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
Program Dates: May 19 – July 1, 2025
Cost: See UMass Amherst Pre-College website for current rates
Eligibility: High school students (typically rising sophomores to seniors)
Deadline: Check the UMass Amherst Pre-College website for updated deadlines
5. Colonial Williamsburg Public Archaeology Institute
A selective program for high schoolers to work alongside professional archaeologists at Colonial Williamsburg.
Site & Research Focus:
Custis Square and Williamsburg’s Public Hospital, with artifacts from 17th- and 18th-century life, including enslaved communities and public institutions.
Program Activities:
Excavation, mapping, and site recording
Artifact analysis and interpretation
Eight hours of classroom instruction
Student-guided archaeological site tours
Location: Custis Square, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
Program Dates: June 17–21, 2025 (Session 1, grades 9–12); July 8–12, 2025 (Session 2, grades 11–12)
Cost: Free (students arrange their housing and transportation)
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Deadline: Rolling admissions
6. Community Archaeology Program – Binghamton University
A week-long summer program providing supervised field and lab experience for teens, led by professional archaeologists.
Site & Research Focus:
Active excavation sites in upstate New York, covering precontact and historic archaeology, with hands-on artifact analysis.
Program Activities:
Field excavation and archaeological techniques
Lab work with real artifacts
Lectures on archaeology and preservation
Practice excavations and hands-on activities
Location: Binghamton, New York, USA
Program Dates: July 8–12, 2024 (teens); July 15–19, 2024 (kids)
Cost: See program website for current rates
Eligibility: Grades 7–10 (teens session)
Deadline: July 1, 2024; rolling admissions
7. National Park Service Youth Archaeology Expedition (Great Sand Dunes)
A 6-day program introducing students to prehistoric and historic archaeology through place-based learning in Colorado.
Site & Research Focus:
Sites within Great Sand Dunes National Park and the San Luis Valley, focusing on stewardship and preservation of local archaeological resources.
Program Activities:
Fieldwork and excavation
Collections management
Hands-on activities with archaeologists and park staff
Stewardship and preservation education
Location: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, USA
Program Dates: July 10–15, 2023 (dates may vary annually)
Cost: Free (includes transportation, snacks, lunch, and supplies)
Eligibility: Students completing 8th–11th grade in the San Luis Valley
Deadline: May 14, 2023 (check for annual updates)
8. Poggio Civitate Archaeological Project
A prestigious field school in Tuscany, Italy, offering comprehensive training in Etruscan archaeology and field methods.
Site & Research Focus:
Excavation of Poggio Civitate, focusing on monumental Etruscan architecture and community structure from the Orientalizing to Archaic periods.
Program Activities:
Excavation, data collection, and survey
Conservation, cataloguing, illustration, and photography
Lab rotations and artifact processing
Weekly lectures and museum visits
Location: Murlo, Tuscany, Italy
Program Dates: June 28 – August 3, 2025
Cost: $5,350 (includes fees, six academic credits, room, and weekday meals); grants available
Eligibility: High school and college students (contact for age specifics)
Deadline: April 1, 2025 (for grants)
9. Bard Archaeology Field School
A hands-on summer program in Germantown, NY, enabling field research and artifact analysis for college credit.
Site & Research Focus:
The 1746 Parsonage site explores the material culture and community history of Palatine German immigrants and later African American residents.
Program Activities:
Excavation and mapping
Laboratory analysis of artifacts
Discussion of historical maps and documents
Formulating interpretations and online exhibits
Location: Germantown, New York, USA
Program Dates: Varies by year (check Bard College website)
Cost: See program website for current rates
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Deadline: Check the Bard College website for details
10. Rice University Online Archaeology Certificate Program
A flexible, self-paced online course series covering archaeology fundamentals, scientific methods, and contemporary debates.
Site & Research Focus:
No specific excavation site; curriculum covers case studies such as plantation archaeology and public history in Texas.
Program Activities:
Online lectures and readings
Assignments on scientific methods and interpretation
Case studies and critical debates in archaeology
Exploration of archaeology’s societal impact
Location: Online
Program Dates: Flexible, self-paced
Cost: See Rice University website for current rates
Eligibility: Advanced high school students and above
Deadline: Rolling admissions
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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