Drayton Hall Archaeological Institute

duration: 5 days
description: Join the archaeology team at Drayton Hall this November for the 2026 Archaeological Institute! This is a five-day immersive experience designed to introduce participants to the methods and theories of archaeological fieldwork, record keeping, and artifact processing. Working alongside our team of archaeologists, participants will gain hands-on experience in both excavation and laboratory techniques while contributing to the ongoing research and preservation of Drayton Hall.
This fall, excavations will focus on an 18th-century building located within the historic core of the property. Previous research, using both ground-penetrating radar and archaeological excavations, has confirmed the presence of a brick foundation dating to the first generation of Drayton occupation, c.1750, as well as several Native American features. Over 5,000 artifacts have been recovered through earlier fieldwork campaigns at this location, including 18th century Chinese porcelain, Italian glass beads, German stoneware, and a variety of unique ceramics.
In addition to field excavations, participants will rotate through Drayton Hall’s Stephen J. Wood Conservation Lab, where staff and volunteers manage the cleaning, labeling, and identification of the artifacts. The program will also include a behind-the-scenes tour of the main house with our preservation team, along with a chance to see the museum collections, which house over one million artifacts.

November 2-6, 2026
10am-2pm

Availability is limited. Please note, this is not an accredited field school for university credits. Participants are responsible for their own accommodation and meals throughout the week.
highlights: * Work on excavations focused on an 18th-century building dating to around 1750
* Handle and help process artifacts such as 18th-century Chinese porcelain, Italian glass beads, and German stoneware
* Behind-the-scenes preservation tour of the main house and access to extensive museum collections
disclaimers: Availability is limited. This program is not an accredited field school for university credit. Participants are responsible for their own accommodation and meals throughout the week.