Location: Seville, Spain

Season Dates: April 20, 2013 - November 22, 2013
Session Dates: 1) April 20 - May 9; 2) May 12-31; 3) June 3-22; 4) June 25 - July 14; 5) July 17 - August 5; 6) August 8-27; 7) August 30 - September 18; 8) September 20 - October 9; 9) October 12-31; and 10) November 3 - November 22
Application Deadline:

Website: http://www.ecomuseodecavalleria.com

Flyer:

bioarchaeology_in_sevilla_and_menorca_2013.pdf

Program Type
Field school

Affiliation: Ecomuseum of the Cape of Cavalleria and the Sa Nitja Association

Project Director: Fernando Contreras

Project Description

The Cavalleria Ecomuseum Field Program offers an annual archaeological dig on the island of Menorca, off the coast of Spain. In 1996 the Ecomuseum began this school of archaeology. Since then it has organized courses for students that come from all over the world to study abroad and who are interested in Roman cities, classical archaeology and biological anthropology.

Our organization has designed a fieldwork course for students interested in participating and experimenting with archaeology in two archaeologically rich sites; the island of Menorca and city of Seville in southern Spain.   

Menorca is located in the centre of the western part of the Mediterranean Sea and because of its geographical location, it has played an important role throughout History. Menorca has been a strategic vantage point for many civilizations. The most important and longest occupation took place with the arrival of a population from the city of Rome. For the following 600 years, Menorca was part of the immense Roman Empire. On the island they founded three cities. One of those cities, Sanisera (our archaeological site), was built around the port of Sanitja. Roman History on the island is amazing!

In the area which is under archaeological excavation an ecclesiastical complex has been found, which dates from the fourth and sixth centuries A.D. It includes an Early Christian basilica. Rome adopted Christianity as its official religion in the fourth century A.D. From that time onwards, Christian basilicas started been built all over the Empire. For this reason, our archaeological research is related to Biblical Archaeology.

Death in Rome has been studied in Sanisera since we started digging the first necropolis in 2008. So far we have excavated 58 tombs belonging to a Roman cemetery which could have been related to a basilica in the Roman city if Sanisera, which dates from the fourth and sixth centuries A.D. The Osteology corpus in this necropolis includes more than 250 individuals.

Seville was known in Roman times as Hispalis, founded in one of the richest agricultural lands of the Roman Empire. From there, they exported to Rome oil, wine and wheat in large quantities. Around the city estates were built to manage the exploitation of the field and in this program we have the opportunity to study a villa occupied during the 4th and 6th centuries AD and its necropolis with more than 50 graves.

Fieldwork runs seven hours a day with time dedicated to both excavation sites, the study of human osteology by the analysis of the skeletal remains and laboratory work on roman pottery. Courses are given in both English and Spanish.

The field school has a duration of 20 days and will start in Spain. Students will meet in Menorca during the first day. For the following 6 days participants will focus on the excavation of both urban structures and skeletal remains from the Ancient Roman city of Sanisera. Students will receive an intensive introduction on basic aspects of field excavation techniques following the Harris Matrix.

The excavation of the Roman cemetery focuses on funerary structures, specifically inhumations. Participants will learn and apply excavation techniques used in biological anthropology when excavating tombs. Students will also participate in lectures on skeletal anatomy and pathologies, classes and exercises related to the course material.

During the next three days of the course, students will travel to Seville by plane (included in tuition costs) and visit the most culturally interesting cities of Andalusia, Granada and Cordoba.

Once in Seville, participants will study during seven days material from the excavations of a Roman villa from the ancient city of Seville.  The archaeological material consists of a unique collection of Roman pottery and human remains that will be analyzed by students so that they gain experience in archaeological laboratory work. In the laboratory participants will be instructed by an anthropologist and other archaeologists in the classification, study, and conservation of human remains and other related materials. Participants will also be given lectures on methodology, Roman archaeology, biological anthropology and classification of archaeological materials and technical drawing.  They will also visit the archaeological site of the area.

The last days of the course will be free days so participants can enjoy and get to know the island of Menorca.

Period(s) of Occupation: Roman Period

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 20 days

Minimum Age: 18 (contact with questions about age)

Experience Required: no

Room and Board Arrangements

Participants will stay in the Ecomuseum's student residency in Ciutadella within walking distance of the historic center, port, and beaches. The residency has heating and air-conditioning, laundry service, free wifi and an outdoor terrace with views of the ocean and historic center. Ciutadella is an enchanting Mediterranean town, lively with cafés and outdoor terraces hidden among narrow cobble stone streets. Transportation to and from the site and planned excursions are included. Cost includes room and board, transportation, accidental medical insurance, planned excursions, application fee and administrative cost.  While in Seville, participants will stay in hostels. Food is included while in Menorca, but not outside of Menorca. 

Cost: between $1850 to $2350

Academic Credit
Number of credits offered: none

Contact Information
Lana Johnson
ADPO 68
Es Mercadal, Islas Baleares 07740
España
sanisera@arrakis.es
Phone: +34 699695580