Ireland Field School
Castles in Communities is an Ireland Archaeological Field School run by the Foothill College Anthropology department. This will be our fourth of hopefully many field seasons in County Roscommon, Ireland. Working in Ireland has been incredible – the people exhibit unparalleled warmth, and the places we visit are just amazing. We are excited to share it all with you!
Castle in Communities is an archaeological/anthropological field school program centered in the rural Irish village of Ballintober and the keepless castle positioned prominently in its midst.
Over the course of a month, students will be immersed in the daily rhythm of rural Ireland while taking part in archaeological investigations into its medieval origins. This is a field learning program, where students gain understanding about the past by directly participating in an academic research project. Students will learn basic field techniques of archaeology, including excavation, survey and laboratory analysis. This hands-on training is combined with coursework in archaeological theory and Irish history. In this interactive manner, students will be exposed to the fundamental processes of social science research that includes working within a research design, collecting data, interpreting data, and situating findings within a broader statement about the significance of human behavior. The Castles in Communities Archaeological Project is a multi-year program which works closely with the Irish community in utilizing its results to encourage ongoing efforts for the preservation and conservation of its local history.
The Program's History
Castles in Communities began in 2015 with a long-term commitment between the community of Ballintober, the ancestral owners of Ballintober Castle, Irish Archaeologist Niall Brady, and the Anthropology Department of Foothill College. Sam Connell and Kathryn Maurer of Foothill College sought to build upon their experience in Mesoamerica and South America, where they have led archaeological field schools with a broader message and view point that archaeological investigations are not strictly limited to the past, but are firmly rooted in the present. These experiences, and Sam’s familial connection to Ireland, led to the formation of the Castles in Communities Project.
The Archaeology
From an archaeological perspective, Ballintober Castle is surprisingly poorly understood in relation to other structures in the region. What is known is that it represents a significant historical moment, played out between the invading Normans and the Irish. The project hopes to better situate Ballintober within the regional expansion and contraction of Norman presence and contribute to the discussion about cultural collision, colonial suppression, and localized response to colonial control.
From a local perspective, Ballintober Castle is a structure that has been relegated to the periphery, yet has remained as a significant point of reference for the community. Abandoned in the 1700s, the castle has slowly succumbed to nature and re-purposed throughout generations. Its walls became a resource for materials with the lower sections periodically mined for stone and its inner courtyard used as a grazing area for livestock. The outer greens have served to host large social events and gatherings, yet the long term role has been ill defined.
The Program's Future
The Castles in Communities Project hopes to address the future of the castle and contribute by re-positioning the castle as a historical landmark and integrating it more actively, and interactively, into the social fabric of the wider region. The project is involved in a community-driven conservation plan, which as a long-term goal would be to stabilize the castle structure, open it to the public, and develop economic related goals around the castle.
Most importantly, this project is about education and cultural exchange. Since 2015, the project has involved over 150 students, each have contributed with individual cultural and archaeological projects that have added to the continued success of the program. On a yearly basis, a significant number of students return as volunteer staff to continue to strengthen the ties between Ireland and the United States.
