Internships
The Department of Architectural and Archaeological Research offers a limited number of archaeological internship
opportunities for advanced undergraduate and graduate students during the summer field season.
Occasional opportunities may also exist during the academic year. Current internship opportunities
fall into the project areas listed below. For additional details, interested applicants are advised to inquire directly of
the contact for each specific program area.
Field Methods and Techniques
Exploration of Colonial Williamsburg’s 301-acre Historic Area, begun in the late 1920s, continues
today through research excavations conducted by the Foundation’s archaeologists. Undergraduate and
graduate students with previous excavation experience may apply to work
alongside these professional, experienced historical archaeologists each summer, gaining experience
in the methods of historical archaeology, and its material culture. This internship is generally
available between May and August and requires a commitment of at least four weeks. Students with
no excavation experience are directed to the Colonial Williamsburg/College of William and Mary
Archaeological Field School.
Applications for the summer season must be received by March 31. Notification
will be made by April 15.
Contact: Andrew Edwards (aedwards@cwf.org) or
Meredith Poole (mpoole@cwf.org).
African-American Archaeology
Colonial Williamsburg recognizes that archaeological studies of African American sites are essential to an understanding of the history of America. This work has been integral to the museum’s
commitment to interpret the African-American past and covers various projects such as the early
excavations at the Carter’s Grove slave quarter, more recent studies within the Historic Area,
and other explorations at nearby plantation sites. Internship opportunities may include working
with archaeological collections; conducting topical and biographical studies about enslaved people
and slaveholders through archival sources; and helping to develop strategies for interpreting
research to the public.
These internship opportunities may be available during the academic year as well as during
the summer months.
Contact: Ywone Edwards-Ingram (yedwards@cwf.org).
Additional Internships
Additional internship opportunities, formerly presented on this page, have moved. For details
about internships in Archaeological Curation and Collections Management, please contact
Kelly Ladd-Kostro (kladd@cwf.org); for Archaeological Conservation,
please contact Emily Williams (ewilliams@cwf.org); and for
Zooarchaeology, please contact Joanne Bowen (jbowen@cwf.org).
Applications
Applications will be accepted at any time, however there is a March 31 deadline for the summer
Field Methods internship. Selections will be made by April 15 for Field Methods interns.
The dates and times of other internships will be determined on an individual basis. After your
application has been reviewed, you will be notified in writing.
Include with a completed application form a current résumé and two letters of
recommendation. If academic credit is a goal, then at least one reference must be from a current
professor at the institution in which you are enrolled.
 (PDF, opens in a separate window)
Mail applications to:
Meredith Poole
Department of Architectural and Archaeological Research
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Financial Support
Internships are generally not funded, although grants and specific donations occasionally provide
a small stipend.
Housing
Interns seeking local, low-cost housing are directed to William and Mary’s Student
Information Network.
Credit
While Colonial Williamsburg does not grant academic credit, many schools offer credit for
internships. Check with your institution.
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