What to Bring

This is not exhaustive, but is a good start! A lot of these items are needed for a field school where you will be camping. Check to see that your field school includes accommodation, or provides gear for camping. If you are unsure of what gear you need for a field school, talk to one of the UAAU executives, and contact the field school directly and ask what equipment they expect you to have.

1. If camping: tent, sleeping bag, extra blanket, pillow (or use clothes), sleeping mat

2. A good backpack to use during the day.

3. Flashlight and/or headlamp (many field schools take place in areas where there are no streetlights - you want to be able to see your way back to the site from the pub, or to the bathroom!)

4. Wet ones! Super handy to have in your tent/day pack to wash your dirty hands/face. A nail scrub brush is awesome too.

5. Travel sized toiletries (although don’t expect to be showering often! It’s okay, everyone else is dirty too!). Pack band aids as well! And nail clippers – the dirt will accumulate and it’ll seem like forever before it’s gone!

6. Snacks (may or may not be supplied). It’s always nice to have a couple granola bars to keep your energy up. Although if camping, make sure to keep everything sealed, or keep food in a vehicle.

7. Water bottles (at least 2). Archaeology is hard work, you need to keep hydrated! The collapsible kind are awesome because they are light and don’t take up a ton of space.

8. Toilet paper. You never know when it’ll come in handy!

9. Ziploc bags. Great for storing little things, and you can use your phone through the plastic to keep it from getting dirty! Also handy to have a larger one for garbage in your tent.

10. Garbage bags - if it starts raining, use it to cover your bag to keep your stuff dry!

11. Watch

12. Travel alarm clock – archaeology waits for no one! You’ll be getting up early to start the day.

13. Ear plugs

14. Matches

15. Pens, pencils, sharpies, paper, clipboard. Take lots of notes! Not only about the excavation (which you’ll likely have to hand in at the end), but also about the experience!

16. Bug spray and sunscreen – very important!

17. A hat

18. Again, LAYERS! Look into the average temperatures where you’re going.

19. Rain jacket and pants.

20. Good, comfortable shoes. Some people like hiking boots. Around an excavation you may want a pair of lighter shoes as well. Some CRM companies require steel toe boots. Just make sure they’re comfortable! If surveying, you’ll be walking a lot, or you may need to walk to the site. Have good socks too.

21. Good work pants or jeans (something that can hold up to the dirt/mud)

22. Work gloves – a couple pairs are helpful, as holes can be common.

23. Knee pads! Might sound lame, but you’ll be glad! Being on your knees for hours at a time does take a toll on your body.

24. Bandanas – useful for wiping off dirt/sweat, keeping bugs/dust off your face, neck, etc.

25. Sunglasses

26. A book, deck of cards, etc. for something to do during downtime.

27. Don’t go too crazy bringing all your electronics. You won’t have time to use them, you might not get service, often no where to charge them, and dirt gets EVERYWHERE.

Places like Mountain Equipment Co-op, Camper’s Village, Cabela’s, and Atmosphere are awesome places to get camping/outdoor gear, and they have experts who can help you out. The best people to ask about what you need are the professors/leaders of the field school. Feel free to contact the UAAU and we’ll try to answer any questions!