San Martino Archaeological Field School

Location: Torano di Borgorose, RI, IT

Season: July 1, 2019 to August 1, 2019

Application Deadline: March 25, 2019

Deadline Type: Exact date

Website: http://www.rochester.edu/College/faculty/ecolant2/sanmartino/sanmartino.html

Program Type:
Field school

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
University of Rochester

Project Director:
Elizabeth Colantoni, University of Rochester

Project Description:

This is the eleventh season of excavation at the San Martino site in Torano di Borgorose, Italy. The site’s archaeological sequence runs from the prehistoric period up to the present day, with archaeological material from every time period in between, including evidence from the Copper Age (Chalcolithic period), a polygonal wall that was part of a pre-Roman or Roman structure, extensive remains of a Roman villa, and a medieval church.  The site stands to offer important data about: (1) settlement characteristics in the Copper Age period, as no other habitation site from this period has been found in the vicinity; (2) the dating, use and significance of polygonal masonry terracing, a type of ancient architectural feature widely present in central Italy, but rarely studied on the basis on excavation data; (3) the nature of the production and trade of pottery in the area in the late antique period; and (4) the dating of ancient earthquakes and other environmental events in the region.

In 2019, our team will be focused on uncovering and excavating more of the Copper Age settlement.  Although we may encounter further Roman and Medieval remains in connection with this work, we will not actively focus on these components of the site in 2019.  Participants will nonetheless learn about the Roman and Medieval history and archaeology of San Martino, and this instruction will be supplemented with hands-on experience excavating at a nearby site with ancient Roman remains.  For further details about the work planned for 2019, please contact Professor Colantoni directly.

A detailed description of the program can be found on the San Martino Archaeological Field School Website.  Prospective participants should apply through the program’s online application system. All applicants will be contacted for an interview after they have submitted the application form.  The application deadline is 25 March 2019.  Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis if spaces are still available after the deadline.

Period(s) of Occupation: Prehistoric, Roman, Late Antique

Notes:
The San Martino Archaeological Field School is a summer program designed to teach students about archaeological field and laboratory methods and the archaeology of ancient Italy. The course is taught on site in central Italy, and participants learn through first-hand experience excavating at the San Martino site as well as through lab work, lectures, readings, and guided museum and archaeological site visits. Participants live in the small town of Torano di Borgorose, where they have the opportunity to learn about life in modern as well as ancient Italy.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full program

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Participants live in the town of Torano di Borgorose in hostel-style accommodations, with cots for three to six people in each room and shared bathrooms and showers. Single rooms are not available, and participants should be prepared to live in shared space. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided during the week and on some weekend days. Breakfast is self-service, with cereal, milk, fruit, cookies, coffee, and tea available. Lunch is taken picnic-style at the site. Dinner is either a hot meal prepared by a local cook for our group or a meal prepared in a local restaurant.  Participants also have access to and are welcome to use the kitchen on their own. Cost: The program fee for 2019 is $4785. This cost includes: two nights in a hotel in Rome, transportation within Italy, room and board as described above, museum admission fees, and tuition for 6 credit hours from the University of Rochester. It does not include the cost of airfare or course textbooks.

Academic Credit:
6 credit hours credits offered by University of Rochester. Tuition is Included in the program cost.