Archaeology Field School

Apply Now

2026 Archaeology Field School Experience

Summer 2026 June 23 – July 31, MTU's Summer Track B.

Become part of our immersive, hands-on introduction to the practice of archaeology in the field! We will explore the archaeology of ancient and historical copper mining in the Lake Superior basin, a region with a deep history of human occupation and use of copper, the first metal to be exploited by humans. Students will learn the fundamentals of archaeological site survey, documentation, remote sensing techniques, excavation, testing, and field lab analysis while working in a backcountry setting. Our partnerships with Isle Royale National Park and heritage sites on the Keweenaw Peninsula will also provide you with opportunities to share your discoveries with the public! 

Michigan Tech’s 2026 Archaeology Field School will take place on Isle Royale National Park, and at several sites on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

Archaeology on the Keweenaw: Historical Copper Mining

We will begin our program with investigations at the historic Quincy Mining Company. Nicknamed Old Reliable, this copper mine proved to be one of the most successful in the region and was active between 1864 and 1945. We will undertake several investigations at the Quincy Mine site and adjacent properties. As this is a popular heritage tourism site, we will have plenty of opportunities to share our work here with the public.

Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula contains the world’s largest know deposit of elementally pure or ‘native’ copper. A globally significant mining district during the latter 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the Keweenaw Peninsula, a beautiful, rugged peninsula jutting into Lake Superior. This historic mining landscape, often referred to as the Copper Country has since become a popular outdoor and heritage tourism destination.

Ancient & Historic Copper Mining Technology on Isle Royale

We will then travel aboard the Ranger III to Isle Royale to join NPS archaeologists for the majority of our 6-week program in investigating the island’s ancient copper mining landscape. We will also visit sites pertaining to historical 19^th century mining activities and fisheries to gain a more complete picture of the human history of this special and nationally significant place.

Geologically related to the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan’s Isle Royale emerges from Lake Superior some 60 miles northwest of the Keweenaw. For thousands of years, indigenous people made the hazardous trip by canoe during the summer from the north shore (near modern day Thunder Bay, Ontario) to visit the island. Aside from subsistence activities, these ancient visitors also mined for copper, from which they fashioned tools and ornaments. After the arrival of Europeans, Isle Royale also hosted several historical copper mining ventures, family-run fisheries, and resorts prior to the island being designated a national park and wilderness. Isle Royale is a rich and ancient archaeological landscape.

The program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Students from outside MTU are also welcome! (successful applicants from other universities will register as a non-degree-seeking student at MTU for the summer)

We offer 6 credit and 12 credit program options, as well as a Graduate enrollment option. Both options include both course described below, at varying credit levels. (Check the Costs, Course Credits, and Logistics section below for further details)

General Enrollment (6 Credits)
SS 3210 – Field Archaeology, 3 credits. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to archaeological field methods, topics covered will include instrumental survey, pedestrian survey, GIS studies, shovel testing, excavation, proper completion of field forms and notes, and experimental archaeology. Additional museum and site visits will also be a part of the course. For MTU students, this course fulfills General Education and Essential Education degree requirements (HASS, Experience).

SS 3990 – Public Archaeology, 3 credits. (You must also be in enrolled in SS 3210) This course will explore the ways in which archaeology is presented to the public. Being primarily based at a major public site, Delaware Mine, will allow for a hands-on component, weekly field trips to other historic and archaeological sites will broaden the experience for the students. For MTU students, this course fulfills General Education and Essential Education requirements (HASS, SHAPE).

Optional PE courses:
PE 0167 Moving for Fitness, 0.5 credits
PE 0175- Hiking, 0.5 credits

Full Time Enrollment Option (12 credits):
SS 3210 – Field Archaeology, 8 credits.
SS 3990 – Public Archaeology, 3 credits.
PE 0167 Moving for Fitness, 0.5 credits
PE 0175- Hiking, 0.5 credits

Graduate Student Enrollment Option
SS 5700— (variable credits, maximum of 8) For graduate students, Archaeological Field Methods provides graduate-level training in archaeological field methods, providing opportunities for more in-depth engagement with the project, including supervisory and leadership roles, as well as graduate-level instruction.

Credits and Tuition

Regular MTU tuition rates apply for all enrollment options; for more information, contact the MTU Financial Aid Office at 906-487-2622 or finaid@mtu.edu.

Successful undergraduate applicants may choose from a 6-credit option or a 12-credit full time option. The full-time option is a great opportunity to maintain full-time enrollment during a summer semester and may more easily satisfy financial aid requirements.

Students applying from outside MTU will, upon acceptance of their application and payment of program deposit, first register as a non-degree-seeking student at MTU. Make sure to check with your academic advisor at your home university to ensure your field school credits will successfully transfer upon program completion.

Graduate student applicants will typically register for 3 or 6 credits of SS 5700. However, this is a variable credit course (3-8 credits).

We will work with you to meet the academic requirements of your home institution – please reach out to the program leader (Dr. Dan Trepal) if you need to discuss this further.

Program Fee

In addition to tuition, the program charges a $1,850 program fee to cover logistics and instructional costs. Upon acceptance of your application, you will be charged a non-refundable $500 deposit to hold your enrollment slot. This deposit will count towards your $1,850 program fee.

The program fee covers the following:

• Lodging when working on the Keweenaw Peninsula
• All meals during workdays
• Daily transportation when required as well as transportation for field trips and other official program activities.
• Training materials
• Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Museum visit fees

Logistics

You will be responsible for travel to our lodgings in the Keweenaw by the program start date. Free parking for personal vehicles will be available for the duration of the program. For students planning to travel by air, Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX) is located within 7 miles of our lodging and within 9 miles of the MTU campus. All flights to CMX connect through Chicago O’Hare (ORD). If you plan to travel by air, please notify the program leader (Dr. Dan Trepal) when you apply so that we can arrange pick-up upon your arrival.

During the Summer Field School, students will learn a wide range of archaeological field methods and gain proficiency using standard archaeological equipment and tools. Examples of what team members learn include the following:

• Consulting documents, maps, aerial photos, remote sensing data, and oral history during excavation and survey on land and water
• Use traditional and new mapping technologies, such as Global Position Systems (GPS), remote sensing, and other instruments for GIS-based analysis
• Standard excavation techniques and methods
• Ethically driven decision making about artifact collection, cleaning, identification, analyses, and conservation, considering industrial, terrestrial, and maritime archaeological sites
• Live and work collectively as part of a team
• Work with site visitors to educate the public about archaeology

For Current Michigan Tech Students

Students wishing to enroll in this faculty-led study abroad program must first contact the program leader to express interest.

Upon Application you will be required to sign a contract stating your intention to participate and to pay a non-refundable program deposit of $500 to the Michigan Tech Student Financial Services Center located on the first floor of the Administration Building.

In order to participate in this study away program you must be a student in "good academic standing."

For Domestic Undergraduate Students Enrolled in Outside Universities

To register for the program as a guest student, complete the following steps:

• Contact the Program Leader (Dr Trepal) expressing your interest and for assistance with the application process.
• Complete the Field School Application Form.

• Visit the registrar at your home university and request a guest student application form. Using your own university's form streamlines the credit transfer process.
• Work with your academic advisor at home institution to confirm that the course credits will transfer / meet your degree program requirements.
• You may need to take the form to your university's registrar, and they will certify your application and forward the form to Michigan Tech's undergraduate admissions office; confirm this step with the registrar. You may be required to pay a $30 application fee. Tech's admissions office will submit the form to the registrar's office. If you have questions about registering for this course, email Tech's registrar's office or call 906-487-2319.

• You will then sign a contract stating your intention to participate and to pay a non-refundable program deposit of $500 to the Michigan Tech Student Financial Services Center located on the first floor of the Administration Building (payment also accepted by mail via check).

For Current Michigan Tech Graduate Students

Contact the Program Leader (Dr Trepal) expressing your interest, and complete the Field School Application Form.

For Domestic Graduate Students Enrolled in Other Universities

Follow the instructions given above for undergraduates enrolled in other universities. Make sure you identify yourself as a graduate student when applying for guest student status.

For International Student Applicants

International students could participate on a tourist visa (90 day maximum stay), since the Field Archaeology course only lasts for six weeks.

• Contact the Program Leader (Dr Trepal) expressing your interest and for assistance with the application process.

• Complete the Field School Application Form.
• You should contact your home university's international studies coordinator or Michigan Tech's International Programs and Services office.

Michigan Tech has a number of international cooperative and exchange agreements that can facilitate guest students from around the world. We encourage prospective students to email International Programs and Services for advice.

Apply Now