Irchester Field School

The Irchester Field School is a joint partnership between The Chester House Estate (CHE) and the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) and University of Leicester's School of Ancient History and Archaeology.

Every June and July, archaeologists from the University of Leicester's School of Ancient History and Archaeology excavate within the suburbs of the Roman town, in partnership with volunteers and staff from The Chester House Estate (CHE)and the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC).

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This programme is a unique opportunity for your pupils to engage with highly experienced archaeological researchers and CHE staff and volunteers passionate about making archaeological research accessible, providing an exceptional range and depth of knowledge and expertise.

Together we are working to provide life-enhancing opportunities focused on archaeology and heritage for young people and the wider community.

Our partnership places research, learning and community engagement at its core. Past and present surveys and excavation has focused not only the core of the walled town with its houses, workshops and temples, but its suburbs and cemeteries, allowing us to better understand the lives of its inhabitants. This research is revealing the hidden histories of communities living along this stretch of the Nene Valley, with a focus on the Late Iron Age and Roman periods.

We are excited to announce that the 2025 Irchester Field School Learning Programme, run in partnership with the University of Leicester, is now open for bookings from Monday 16th June to Friday 4th July 2025. 
This year, we've enhanced our programme to provide an even more engaging and immersive archaeological experience for your students. This year, your class will benefit from the expertise of archaeologists specialising in various fields, tailored to each activity. This specialised approach will offer even more hands-on activities for students and will provide a deeper understanding of different aspects of archaeology.

Early 2025 enquiries - book now!

Programme highlights

Osteology Workshop: Learn how the study of human bones enables archaeologists to understand all aspects of human health, from diet, lifestyle, the impact and spread of diseases and the treatment of the dead. You will examine and record real (or replica if required) skeletons from the site of Roman Irchester. 
Excavation Tour and Equipment Exploration: Watch archaeologists in action, excavating in the suburbs of the small Roman town of Irchester. Explore the excavation site and learn about the equipment and cutting-edge techniques used by archaeologists. 
Archaeological Feature Recording: Try your hand at archaeological techniques. Participate in the recording of archaeological features on the excavation site, learning about the importance of accurate documentation for piecing together the stories of everyday life under Roman rule. 
Archivist experience: What happens to archaeological finds? Where and why do we keep them? Discover the role of an archaeological archivist and learn about the process of preserving and organising archaeological records. Your students will have a chance to handle and catalogue artefacts in our state-of-the-art Archaeological Resource Centre.
Pottery and Lab Session: What can we learn from the things that we find? Analyse finds discovered from the excavations of Roman Irchester using microscopes. Students will develop skills to allow them to investigate the lives of the people who lived there based on the evidence found.
Finds Washing: Help us process the things that we find. Your students will be given an artefact found during excavations of the site of Roman Irchester. They will be guided through the finds washing process to clean their artefact ready for examination.
Optional:  Swap your finds washing for an "Ask the Archaeologist" Careers Talk
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Interested in learning?

Enquire now