Frequently asked questions

We will be offering scholarships for our program directly through the Cahaba Foundation and the Cahaba Advisory Committee limited to Alabama residents. How many scholarships and how much the scholarships will cover will be determined in late January.

I recommend checking the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) for field school scholarships — they typically have several strong options.

If you are a current student, I would check for opportunities within your department. Even if your department cannot provide direct assistance, they will likely have recommendations for other organizations which may be able to assist you.

There will also be an upcoming opportunity through the Register of Professional Archaeologists (RPA) that I can nominate participants for. Those awards will be prioritized based on financial need first, and merit second. I will submit my nominations for this scholarship in March with decisions being made after April 1st.

Please note that any scholarship funds are processed as reimbursements — you would pay the program fees upfront, and if the award is issued to us directly, we would then reimburse you for the corresponding amount. All participants will be automatically submitted for consideration of these scholarships upon their successful registration.

All applicants are automatically considered for all available scholarships for which they are eligible that require our recommendation. Once applications are reviewed, our team at the Alabama Historical Commission will create a shortlist of candidates for recommendation to the appropriate scholarship committees. After that stage, we may reach out to request additional materials—such as a CV, cover letter, or brief interview dependent on the requests of that particular scholarship committee—to help strengthen your application.

Unfortunately, we are not currently able to offer installment plans on our program. Applicants are given two weeks from the date of their acceptance into the program to pay their registration. We are, however, able to offer extensions to this deadline. If you are in need of an extension, please request this directly by emailing Dr. William Henry at william.henry@ahc.alabama.gov

Program fees are refundable (minus processing fees) until January 1st. After that date, we’ll begin making payments and arrangements on behalf of participants, so refunds won’t be possible. If something came up after January 1st that prevented you from attending, please let us know as soon as possible — if we’re able to fill your spot from the waitlist, we may be able to offer at least a partial refund.

Once we receive your application, you’ll receive an acknowledgment email from Dr. William Henry (william.henry@ahc.alabama.gov) within one week of receipt of your application, confirming that your materials have been received.

Your application will then be reviewed. Applicants typically receive a decision on acceptance within two weeks, along with their next steps.

If accepted, you’ll have two weeks to submit your program fees and finalize your registration. Once your payment is confirmed, Dr. Henry will send a final email verifying your registration—at that point, you’ll be officially enrolled.

Around January 1st, you’ll receive a packet with important program materials, including documentation, a packing list, and other details to help you prepare for your time at Old Cahawba. If you are accepted after January 1st, you’ll receive the packet upon acceptance.

At this time we cannot directly offer academic credit for our program. We are, however, happy to assist you with any documentation necessary for you to pursue academic credit at your home institution.

The program provides nearly all excavation and survey tools. However, participants are responsible for their own personal gear, such as a trowel, gloves, high-visibility clothing, and any other personal protective equipment (PPE) you prefer to use. You’ll receive a detailed packet, including a packing list, around January 1st or upon acceptance if you are accepted after January 1st.

You’ll be staying in comfortable, physical housing with shared rooms—not a camping setup. You can see photos of the buildings where participants will be housed on the Housing and Logistics page.

If you’re flying into Montgomery and won’t have a vehicle, don’t worry—our staff will be available on weekends to help organize trips into town for groceries or supplies as needed. Many participants will also have their own vehicles, and we encourage everyone to coordinate and explore together during downtime. Both Selma and Montgomery are rich in history and offer wonderful opportunities for exploration within a short drive of your accommodations during downtime.

The housing includes a full commercial kitchen, but it will be in active use by staff preparing meals for those on the meal plan, so participant access will be limited. You will have access to a shared refrigerator, which is primarily intended for storing water, leftovers, or small items rather than full groceries. Dalwhinnie Fields provides weekday meal service (Monday–Friday) for those enrolled in the meal plan and can also prepare meals on weekends upon request. Because weekend programming and field trips may be offered on the weekend, we opted not to include weekend meals in the package so participants can decide what best suits their plans each weekend. Selma also offers a variety of local restaurants that we encourage you to try out. Payment for the meal plan is handled directly by Dalwhinnie Fields upon your arrival.