The Environmental & Cultural Heritage of Irish Landscapes, Birr - Institute for Field Research


Location: Birr, Ireland

Season: 
July 14, 2019 to August 10, 2019

Application Deadline: 
Friday, April 5, 2019

Deadline Type: 
Rolling

Website: 
http://ifrglobal.org/program/ireland-birr/

Program Type

Field school

RPA certified

no

Affiliation:

Institute for Field Research, Connecticut College, University College Dublin/Irish Heritage School, Irish Archaeology Field School

Project Director:

Dr. Stephen Mandal, Prof. John Feehan

Project Description

Throughout human history, people have been interacting with the natural landscape, seeking food, water, shelter, and resources with which to build a better life. Understanding the landscape, how it formed, and how it has been altered by humans is an integral part of the study of archaeology. This unique, teaching-focused program has been designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the natural landscape, from the underlying bedrock to the glacial landforms, from the overlying soils to the flora and fauna they support. With this knowledge, students will be equipped to study the interaction of humans with the landscape through the millennia. The program combines field studies with laboratory work to piece together three different landscapes in three distinct locations: Birr in the midlands, the Burren in County Clare on the West coast, and Clare Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Staying with local families in homestay accommodations, this program also offers deeply enriching cultural immersion, guaranteeing students a truly memorable experience.

Period(s) of Occupation: Various

Project size: 
1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Participants are required to stay for the full duration of the field school.

Minimum age: 
18

Experience required: 
No prior experience is required to participate in this program.

Room and Board Arrangements

With the exception of the extended field trips in the Burren and on Clare Island, the students will be housed in Home Stay accommodation in the town of Birr, Co. Offaly (see schedule in syllabus). Home Stay students live with local families, and experience true home life in provincial Ireland. Students are to keep the accommodation clean and tidy at all times and to be respectful towards their Home Stay family and roommates. Students will walk (or be dropped to and collected from) a designated meeting point (normally Birr Square or Birr Community School). Breakfast and dinner will be provided along with a packed lunch. At weekends students are encouraged to avail of their free time and explore Ireland. Food will be provided during extended field trips.

In the Burren and on Clare Island accommodation will be in (single sex) shared dormitory style rooms in local hostels, with meals provided in a communal setting.

Cost: 
Room and Board are included in the cost of the field school.

Academic Credit

Name of institution offering credit: 
Connecticut College
Number of credits offered 8 Semester Credits
Tuition: 
$4,735

Location

Contact Information
Insitute for Field Research
2999 Overland Ave. Suite 103
Los Angeles
CA
USA
90064
info@ifrglobal.org
Telephone: 
424-209-1173
Recommended Bibliography: 

Aalen, F.H.A, Whelan, Kevin and Matthew Stout (1997). Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape. Cork University Press, Cork (revised edition 2011). Please read as much as possible, particularly Sections 1-4.

David, Bruno and Julian Thomas (2008). Handbook of Landscape Archaeology. Walnut Creek, Left Coast Press. Chapters 1, 2 and 4.

Feehan, John (1979). The Landscape of Slieve Bloom: a study of its natural and human heritage. Blackwater Press, Dublin (revised edition 2009).

Jones, Carleton (2004). The Burren and the Aran Islands. Exploring the Archaeology. Cork, The Collins Press. Please read as much as possible.

Viney, Michael (2003). Ireland. A Smithsonian Natural History. Belfast, The Blackstaff Press: Chapters 1-8, 12 and 17.

Averis, Ben (2013). Plants and Habitats: An Introduction to Common Plants and Their Habitats in Britain and Ireland. Ben and Alison Averis.

Blamey, Marjorie, Richard Fitter and Alistair Fitter (2013). Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland (2nd Revised Edition). Bloomsbury Natural History.

D’Arcy, Gordon (1992). The Natural History of the Burren. London, Immel.

Feehan, John (2003). Farming in Ireland: History, Heritage and Environment. University College Dublin Faculty of Agriculture.

Feehan, John (2004). A Long-Lived Wilderness. The Future of the North Midland Peatlands. ERM in collaboration with the National Wetlands Park Committee.

Feehan, John (2007). Cuirrech Lifè. The Curragh of Kildare, Ireland. School of Biology and Environmental Science UCD in association with the Department of Defence.

Feehan, John (2007). The State of Nature in Offaly. Offaly County Council.

Feehan, John (2009). The Wildflowers of Offaly. Offaly County Council.

Feehan, John (2013). The Geology of Laois and Offaly. Offaly County Council, in association with Laois County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland.

Feehan, John (2014). Cluain Mac Nóis i nDeilbne hEthra: The Landscape of Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, Ireland. Offaly County Council in association with Bord na Móna.

Feehan, John (2016). The Carran and Templecronan Looped Walks. Clare’s Rock Hostel, Carran.

Feehan, John and Alison Rosse (2005). An Atlas of Birr. Department of Environmental Resource Management at University College Dublin in association with Offaly County Council.

O’Connell, Jeff W. and Anne Korff (eds.) (2001). The Book of the Burren. Kinvara, TirEolas (2nd edition).