In previous years, we routinely requested Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous colleagues from Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), Six Nations of the Grand River Archaeology Department (SNRAD) and the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI). Indigenous colleagues were also invited to participate in fieldwork at Nursery (AhGx-8). Nursery was the venue of the McMaster Archaeological Field School between 2006 and 2023. McMaster students went to visit the late Joanne Thomas at Six Nations (2016) and Paul General of Six Nations came to visit us on campus (2016) and on site (2018). We hosted small delegations from MCFN’s Department of Consultation and Accommodation (2018 and 2022). In 2023, several SNGRAD team members came to work with us in the lab as well as on site.

During these years, considerations of what a collaborative archaeological field school could look like were discussed, and we pivoted to both a new site and a new decision-making framework. In this case, we attempted to have all major decisions agreed to by consensus from a collective across SNGRAD, MCFN and representatives of the Traditional side at Six Nations. Collective-made decisions included which site we would work at, where investigations would take place and how screening would be conducted. The McMaster Archaeological Field School will not run in 2026, but we are hopeful that we and our Indigenous colleagues will come together again in 2027.

Sealey Village (AgHa-4) may be one of the final Attawandaron village sites, dating to about 1630-1650. The site sits north of the Grand River between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The village is believed to be associated with the Walker Site, which is considered the seat of the paramount chief of the Attawandaron of the early 1600s, Tsouharissen.

Sealey was first identified in the mid-1800s, with prominent archaeologists and avocational archaeologists taking an interest in the village. Unfortunately, the site suffered significant looted until the late-1980s when the current property owner purchased the land and established protections for the village.

With help from friends and colleagues from Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation and students of Ontario Archaeology, an initiative is underway to rewrite Attawandaron (Neutral) archaeology. Our work together aims at reconciling Sealey.

Learn more about the Summer 2025 excavation here: McMaster’s First Fully Collaborative Archaeological Field School – Anthropology

3CC6 Archaeological Field School

This seven week, six-credit course (ANTHROP 3CC6) usually runs every other year during the Spring Semester (May and June). The first six weeks are spent in the field/lab. The seventh week is reserved for finishing assignments from home.

The Archaeological Field School emphasizes community collaboration and provides hands-on experience in the methods and techniques of archaeological excavation. Following provincial legislation set forth by the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, this course teaches students the required elements of archaeological field practice for both professional (CRM) and research-based archaeology.

While most of the time is spent in the field, time is also devoted to learning new laboratory practices, analytical techniques and refining research skills.

By the end of the course, students will be capable of participating in the full spectrum of archaeological practice, specifically survey, mapping, excavation, research, analysis and report writing.

Prerequisite(s): ANTHROP 2PA3 or an equivalent course in archaeological methods and credit or registration in WHMIS 1A00.

Field School usually begin each day at 9:30am, with work continuing until about 4:00pm. There will be a morning and/or afternoon break (15 minutes) and a lunch break at 12pm (1 hour).

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from site each day, although carpooling may be available. Once at site, the group will gather for a health and safety tailgate before collecting their equipment and hiking to the study area. Students will work in assigned pairs to lay-in and excavate their unit. Tasks may include troweling, screening, collecting artifacts and completing field paperwork. Students may also have the opportunity to assist with minimally invasive archaeological techniques such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), LiDAR and soil coring.

In addition to days spent in the field, students will spend time in the McMaster archaeology labs cleaning, identifying and cataloguing the artifacts from their units. As work permits, there may be field trips to other local archaeology sites, museums and research facilities.

Students should be prepared to complete physically demanding tasks in the summer heat and work in a range of weather conditions, including light rain.

Registration for this six-credit Spring course is done online through MOSAIC and usually opens in March for McMaster students. See MOSAIC for details and dates for registration

Non-McMaster students should contact the Instructional Assistant, Melissa Dunham (dunham2@mcmaster.ca) before April if they are interested in registering in the course.

Tuition is the equivalent of a regular six-credit course through McMaster University and is paid through McMaster Student Accounts. Students will be responsible for the purchase of appropriate footwear, trowel, and a few other small tools, totaling no more than $200.

There are several opportunities open to help McMaster students with the expenses associated with field school programs. Checkout AwardSpring for available funding options.