IFR: China- Yangguanzhai Field School

Yangguanzhai field school is the only one of its kind in China. It is a must-have experience for anyone who is interested in and want to explore Chinese cultures and archaeology. I’m truly glad that I have applied for this field school, and the knowledge I learned and the people I met there will be my lifelong treasure. The living condition was superb, as well as the food. It’s a nice place to start a field work, and the schedule was not too challenging.

The IFR Field School at Yangguanzhai was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not only did I gain valuable knowledge and experience through the extensive fieldwork, I was also able to explore Xi'an and see all of the amazing sites the city and surrounding countryside have to offer such as the Old City Wall, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Great Mosque, Huashan, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, the the Tomb of the First Emperor, the Terracotta Soldiers, and much more! Additionally, the excavation itself was incredibly informative and the faculty and staff were impeccable. Through these outings and interactions, I made a number of lifelong friends and gave my CV a nice boost as well!

The IFR field school at Yangguanzhai gave me the opportunity to see where archaeological data comes from, and to participate in the process of critical-thinking that leads to discovering our shared history. In addition to giving lectures, our instructors patiently taught us proper field techniques, from taking elevations every day to making technical drawings of features. The field school helped me understand that, beyond its excitement and adventure, archaeology really is a slow, methodical process of exploration. And it's fascinating! I loved how YGZ brought the Chinese Neolithic Era to life. The field school also included field trips to many museums, archaeological sites (other than the one we excavated), and guest lectures; all of this helped to contextualize our fieldwork.

The program also taught me the importance of using a clear and consistent scientific method. We were told to always describe before we interpret. Although this rule may seem obvious, I don't think I fully understood the importance of this concept before YGZ, when a hasty interpretation could have serious consequences to future research.

As a student of the Chinese language, the field school also presented a great opportunity for cultural immersion and language practice. I loved working with a team of international students and professors--it really showed me how archaeologists collaborate across international borders.

YGZ has been indispensable to me when considering a career in archaeology and cultural heritage. It exposed me to the variety of disciplines within archaeology, especially geoarchaeology, ceramics, paleoethnobotany, and bioarchaeology. Now that I'm in my fourth year of undergraduate study, I'm applying for post-graduate programs. My experiences in YGZ have helped a great deal in discerning what I may do in the future.