Geophysics Courses

Join one of our 1-day, 3-day or 5-day geophysics training courses and gain real, hands-on experience using professional survey equipment in active archaeological landscapes across the UK.

Designed for students, volunteers, and heritage professionals, our courses offer intensive, practical training in small groups of no more than three participants – ensuring near one-to-one tuition throughout.

Each course is hosted at live research and community archaeology sites, providing authentic field conditions and real project challenges.

By the end of the course, whether you join us for a single day or a full week, you’ll have a clear understanding of geophysical survey techniques and the confidence to take your next steps in the field. Longer courses focus on building the skills to independently design, carry out, and interpret your own surveys, while our 1-day option provides a memorable, hands-on experience guided by expert instructors.

Locations and dates are updated regularly to fit ongoing research projects – early booking is recommended.

🧭Geophysics Course – 3-Day Option

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to archaeological geophysics. You will receive practical, hands-on training in magnetometry, using professional survey equipment and GPS. The course focuses on planning, setting up, and conducting field surveys, with a strong emphasis on understanding survey design, data collection techniques, interpretation of results, and how to present your findings clearly and effectively in a professional setting.

🧭Geophysics Course – 5-Day Option

This extended course includes everything in the 3-day programme, plus an additional focus on GIS and digital survey data visualisation. You will learn how to process, analyse, and present geophysical data using specialist software, enhancing your technical skills. The course also covers advanced topics in interpretation, reporting, and data management, providing the tools you need to confidently apply geophysical methods in academic research, consultancy, or commercial projects.

What you’ll learn:

• Principles of archaeological geophysics
• Equipment overview and survey planning
• Grid setup using GPS
• Magnetometry survey techniques
• Data download and basic interpretation
• On-site troubleshooting and tips for real-world conditions

Additional training includes:

• Introduction to QGIS and project setup
• Geophysical data visualisation techniques
• Integrating results with existing spatial datasets
• Creating basic output for reports and publications
• Software troubleshooting and data presentation

Please bring:

• A laptop with QGIS installed
• A free trial of TerraSurveyor64, downloaded no more than 1 week before the course.