Updated for 2025-2026
Thinking about traveling abroad? You’re not alone. People have been traveling for 2 million years. It began with Homo erectus, walking out of Africa in the early migrations. Then other archaic people followed, like H. heidelbergensis, the likely ancestor of modern humans, around 500,000 years ago.
Our ancestors spread to other continents, and along the way, they invented houses and built communities. They invented agriculture and changed the landscape. They invented religions and built temples. They created the special places we love to visit today, leaving a rich legacy of hope for a bright future.
We know about the paths early people took, and the things they made, from the development of the first stone tools at Lomekwi in East Africa 3.3 million years ago, thanks to the work of archaeologists. These scientists interpret the story of early people because there was no written record left behind, with the exception of handprints and animal paintings on cave walls. The historical record began with the system of writing, which began around 5,000 years ago in modern-day Iraq. Then people began writing their own stories. And even then, archaeology is able to fill in the gaps of those stories.
Some people consider archaeology a form of time travel – a way to peer into the past to gain a richer understanding of our world today, and our place in it. Are you curious about ancient people, wondering about who they were, where they came from, and what struggles and successes they encountered along the way? Here’s a quick survey that may help to unleash your inner Indiana Jones.
- When your grade school class visited the local museum, were you the student who lagged behind, staring at the mummy sarcophagus and ogling the artifacts in exhibit cases?
- When other kids were tuning into Nickelodeon, were you watching the History Channel while flipping through old issues of National Geographic?
- Do you roll your eyes and correct people when they say archaeologists dig for dinosaurs? (Inward sigh) “No, that’s paleontology.”
- Do you walk with your head down, your eyes constantly searching the ground in front of you for an unusual object?
- Do you solve puzzles and mysteries easily, because you love patterns and find them in all sorts of places?
- Do you browse the Duluth Trading Co. website for cargo pants and work boots instead of Net-a-Porter for literally anything else?
- Do you ever wonder how the ancient people of Cambodia constructed Angkor Wat, but more importantly, why? What is the meaning of Stonehenge? Were the pyramids of Egypt only burial chambers for the rich, or was there a more significant reason for the decades spent building each one? Why did people brave the cold and ice to cross the Bering Straits and populate the New World?
If these questions and others like them stir your interest, then you could be harboring the “Scientia Antiquitatis” gene, and there’s only one thing to do to find out. Get into the field and test yourself with an adventure that combines meaningful travel with history.
Archaeologists study people through time, from 3 million years ago to yesterday, by excavating, recovering, and analyzing material culture. Material culture is another word for artifacts and features – anything that was made or used by humans. Through archaeology, we can understand where and when people lived on the Earth, but also why and how they have lived.
Archaeology isn’t for the faint of heart. There are heat and cold, and rain and snow, and dirt and lots and lots of mud. There are bugs and snakes and the occasional bull that chases you out of their field. Your crew consists of people who look like construction workers but talk like scientists because that’s what they are. They rigorously study the cultures and lifeways of prehistoric and historic people. Like cultural anthropologists, they’re interested in what people do and why they do it, with one caveat: the people they study are long gone.
If you’d like to know more about archaeology, you can enroll in a university course, or you can check a book out of a library, but there’s nothing comparable to visiting and volunteering at an archaeology site. If you’d like to know more about important archaeology sites you can visit, and some that you can volunteer with, check out the archaeological volunteer opportunities below. One program you’ll definitely want to check out is Maximo Nivel’s Anthropology university program in Latin America, which include excursions to archaeological sites. With the exception of an actual archaeological field school, these may be the closest you’ll come to taking part in an archaeological dig and finding your own fortune and glory. If a university course isn’t for you, then check out GoEco, which offers an archaeological volunteer project near Cusco, and Volunteering Solutions, which offers archaeology programs in Greece. If you’re a teenage volunteer or part of a group, then definitely check out Projects Abroad’s archaeology volunteer program in Peru.
Featured Volunteer Abroad Programs
Archeology Internship in Jordan – Intern Abroad HQ
Intern Abroad HQ’s Archeology Internship in Jordan offers an intensive four-week field experience based around Petra, the legendary “Rose City” carved into pink sandstone cliffs. Participants join a non-profit host organization and support real conservation and restoration projects at Petra, Wadi Rum, Tell Hesban, and other historic sites. The program combines hands-on excavation with training in documentation, stratigraphy, artifact registration, cleaning and storage, condition assessments, and preparation of lime-based mortars for ancient walls.
Interns work Sunday to Thursday, usually from 7:30am to 1:30pm, leaving long afternoons and weekends free to explore Jordan’s landscapes and culture. Accommodation and some meals are included, along with airport pickup, orientation, 24/7 in-country support, and guidance for local travel and social activities. Academic credit facilitation, an international reference, and a completion certificate help you translate the experience into future study and career opportunities.
The internship is conducted in English, with optional Arabic language lessons to deepen cultural immersion. Due to the outdoor nature of archaeological fieldwork and Jordan’s hot Mediterranean summers, especially in May and June, applicants need good fitness, patience, and stamina. This makes the program well suited to aspiring archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, heritage managers, and other students who are serious about building practical skills while living in one of the world’s most iconic archaeological regions. Program fees cover placement support and hosting, with a refundable-style deposit structure.
Volunteer in Peru – Archaeology Volunteering in Sacred Valley of the Incas
The Archaeology Volunteering program in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, managed by GoEco, offers a unique opportunity for volunteers to contribute to preserving Peru’s rich cultural heritage. Located in the Cusco region, the heart of the ancient Inca Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the program partners with Peru’s Ministry of Culture on cultural preservation projects that have been running for over 15 years .
The volunteer work focuses on cultural heritage preservation rather than archaeological excavation . Participants engage in various tasks essential for maintaining and documenting historical sites. These include cleaning and maintaining archaeological sites by sweeping and removing weeds, assisting in the creation of site maps, and helping with the basic classification and documentation of artifacts . Volunteers also participate in workshops on ancient crafts like weaving and ceramics, and may mark and codify newly discovered materials . The work is physically demanding, typically involving 4-6 hours per day, Monday through Friday .
Volunteers stay with local host families, first in Cusco during orientation and then near the project site in the Sacred Valley, enjoying authentic home-cooked Peruvian meals . Requirements include being at least 18 years old, having good physical fitness, and a passion for cultural preservation. While Spanish is helpful, it is not mandatory.
Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad offers two distinct Archaeology Volunteering programs in Peru, tailored for different age groups but united by their location in the culturally rich Cusco region. Both programs are designed for participants with no prior experience and contribute to vital archaeological conservation work.
The Archaeology for Groups program is for volunteers aged 18 and over. This adult-focused program involves a minimum two-week commitment where participants engage in hands-on work. Activities include mapping sites, participating in workshops on drawing and ceramics, cleaning archaeological areas, and classifying artifacts. A highlight of the experience is a weekend trip to the iconic Machu Picchu. Volunteers stay with a local host family, providing an authentic cultural immersion.
The Archaeology for Teens program, or High School Special, is a structured 2-week session for participants aged 15 to 18. This program provides constant supervision and 24/7 support from trained staff. Teen volunteers also work at archaeological sites and enjoy a trip to Machu Picchu. The experience is enhanced with additional educational components, including Spanish lessons and workshops on the region’s history. Accommodation is provided with a host family or in a supervised lodge to ensure safety and a supportive environment for younger participants.
Global Vision International
Global Vision International (GVI) offers volunteer trips and internship opportunities in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Americas. Founded in 1997, GVI places 2,000 participants abroad every year, with more than 20,000 travelers placed to date. Projects range from critical community development, environmental conservation, teaching, and more. GVI also provides interns with outstanding opportunities to develop professional skills through training, qualifications, and work placements. GVI partners with prolific organizations such as Save the Children, The Red Cross, WWF, SANParks, and The Jane Goodall Institute, as well as smaller, community-based organizations with grassroots initiatives.
If you’re thinking archaeology is all about digging in the dirt, think again. Many archaeologists are venturing underwater, investigating prehistoric and historic sites and features, including shipwrecks and sunken cities! If you’d like to consider an archaeology adventure that takes you beneath the sea, take a look at a GVI scuba diving program. Archaeologists are scientists who use the theories and methods of all other fields of study because they want to know how people react with and within their environment. When you focus on a placement that includes marine conservation, you’ll understand how archaeological sites are preserved differently underwater, and how they require different research skills and excavation techniques. If you’re interested in archaeology minus the digging, this may be the experience you’ve been looking for.
Marine Conservation & PADI Advanced Open Water Course
Discover the underwater world and develop your skills as a PADI scuba diver on this GVI placement in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. This program is designed for students under 18 who already know how to dive and are seeking PADI Advanced Open Water certification. If you’re interested in learning how to dive, check out the marine conservation awareness program here.
Since you’ll be learning from scuba diving experts, you’ll learn more about marine conservation and experience some of the best diving conditions the world has to offer. After participating in this program, you’ll be a confident diver, which allows you to research safely. Your data will contribute to the long-term survival of the reef while becoming educated about local and global issues. There are many shipwrecks in the Yucatan, mostly Naval vessels that were deliberately sunk and turned into artificial reefs, such as MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte), an underwater art project/museum in the waters surrounding Cancun.
You’ll also have a chance to swim with turtles and dolphins while you work to raise environmental awareness and help to minimize the impact. On the weekends, turn your archaeological eye inland and explore ancient Mayan cities and ruins, trek tropical jungles, and may even visit a cenote, an underground river. Learn more here!
Ready to Travel?
Travelers love places, but the truth is, they love people more because people make the places you visit special. With a bit of ingenuity, you can create an internship of your own when you mix archaeology fieldwork and community outreach on a placement abroad.
If you have an interest in conservation, preservation, research, or excavation, chances are you can find an opportunity with a volunteer travel company that allows you to explore ancient ruins and do good at the same time.
Choose from one that has a specific archaeology project, or talk with your adviser at university to design your own (and earn academic credit in the process). Create your own archaeological field school: pull out your atlas today and start imagining your archaeological adventure abroad!
Robin Van Auken ยท Writer
Robin is a researcher, writer, and a registered professional archaeologist, a skillset she uses every day as a cultural communication specialist with Hands-on Heritage. Her projects connect communities with an emphasis on interpretation and education and conserve cultural and environmental legacies.