2026 Cardiff, UK: Isotope Analysis of Archaeological Materials Winter Program

Location: Cardiff

Season: January 5, 2026 to January 16, 2026

Application Deadline: December 6, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.fieldsciences.org/program/2026-uk-cardiff-winter

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Center for Field Sciences and Cardiff University

Project Director:
Dr. Emily Holt & Dr. Richard Madgwick, Cardiff University (UK)

Project Description:

Isotope analysis of ancient materials has become a key component of the archaeologist’s toolkit. Strontium and sulfur isotopes help document ancient mobility patterns. Carbon and nitrogen isotopes provide insights into animal and human diets. Oxygen isotopes help reconstruct environmental change. The list of relevant isotopes is long and all provide important archaeological data about life and choices humans made in the past. Understanding how isotope analysis works, therefore, is an essential skill for archaeologists, whether as archaeological scientists pursuing isotope analysis for their own research or as critical consumers of their colleagues’ conclusions.

Period(s) of Occupation: Various cultures and time periods

Notes:
Tuition cost is $2,652; Program awards 4 semester credit units (equivalent to 6 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full session

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: There are no prerequisites. This is hands-on, experiential learning, and students will study on-site how to conduct isotope analysis of archaeological context. The work requires patience, discipline, manual dexterity, and attention to detail.

Room and Board Arrangements:
This program does not provide room and board. Cardiff is the largest city in Wales and offers many hotels, Airbnb and youth hostels in all price ranges. Cardiff offers a wide variety of fresh & healthy food and has an efficient public transport system that serves many parts of the city. Students can choose accommodations in many of the city’s neighborhoods.

Academic Credit:
Program awards 4 semester credit units (equivalent to 6 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College