There are a lot of different ways you can experience a new country, but one that people often don’t think about is through an archaeological dig. Travelers who love learning about history, and wish to be a part of the discovery process should consider volunteering on an archaeological dig.
Anyone Can Go
Most archaeological digs funded by universities offer field schools and field volunteer placements for people looking to learn about the field. The Archaeological Institute of America provides a database of fieldwork opportunities each year. Those who are interested can explore the programs, destinations, and time period that the findings will be from. That means if you’re interested in the Neolithic period, you can choose a site that focuses on that time period specifically.
What’s Included
Volunteering on a dig isn’t free, even for archaeology students. You will need to cover your room and board, along with a small fee to work at the archaeological site. It’s worth it though—not only will you be in a new country, learning about history, but you will meet like-minded people and make lifelong friends along the way. You may even discover an important artifact, and learn some valuable new skills while you are at it!