Location: 7170 Redondo, Portugal
Season: May 4, 2025 to May 31, 2025
Session Dates: May 04 - May 31 (4 Weeks); May 18 - May 31 (2 Weeks)
Application Deadline: April 4, 2025
Deadline Type: Rolling
Website: http://www.castelodecuncosproject.com/
Program Type:
Field School
RPA Certified:
No
Project Director:
Dr. Alex Elliott: University of St Andrews, and Rui Mataloto: Municipality of Redondo
Project Description:
Castelo do Monte Novo (known locally as Castelo de Cuncos) is a large Iron Age/Roman Republican era settlement located in the Central Alentejo region of Portugal. So far, our work has revealed a substantial fortified settlement that appears to have been abruptly abandoned in the Late Roman Republican Period (late 2nd/early 1st Century BCE). Burned outer walls and the discovery of Roman weaponry during excavation suggests evidence of conflict. For the 2025 summer season, we will continue excavation and hope to gain a better understanding of the site from its Iron Age origins until its likely violent end during the Roman Republican period.
Students will receive instructions in various archaeological methods such as excavation and surveying techniques, the processing and handling of artifacts, and the recording and illustrating of exposed areas. Prior experience in archaeology is not required. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students and volunteers are welcome.
Period(s) of Occupation: Iberian Iron Age - Roman Republican Period
Project Size: 1-24 participants
Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 2 Weeks
Minimum Age: 18
Experience Required: No Experience Required
Room and Board Arrangements:
Life on the Project
Accommodation: Students will be housed together in the town of Redondo, near the site. Due to space considerations, most rooms will be shared by two or three students. Rooms will be separated by gender. Outside of individual rooms, the rest of the house is communal: kitchen, bathroom, living room etc. As a result, students will be responsible for cleaning and keeping the house tidy. Students will be responsible for doing their own laundry (we have a washing machine). Meals: The project provides 3 meals a day on weekdays. Breakfast will be eaten at the dig house and students are expected to prepare this meal themselves (cereal, yoghurts, toast, etc.). We will eat lunch at a local restaurant in town. For dinner, we will have food delivered from a local restaurant and eat in the dig house. On weekends, students will be responsible for their own meals (there are a number of restaurants and grocery stores in town). Students should expect to eat the local Alentejan cuisine. The project will do its best to accommodate dietary requirements, but students must inform us of any dietary requirements or allergies in their forms. We are able to accommodate vegetarian diets, but any other diets must be discussed with one of the directors before the start of the project.
Transportation: Students are expected to provide their own transport to Portugal (the Lisbon Airport). Airfare is not included in the project’s tuition cost. Once within Portugal, transportation will be provided by the field school. Upon arrival at the Lisbon airport on May 4th (or May 18th for two weeks), students will be greeted by Rui, Alex, and Jemima and will be taken to Redondo as a group. At the end of the session, we will also transport students from Redondo to the Lisbon airport. We are also able to drop you off elsewhere within Lisbon if required. Tuition for 2 week period: $1300 Tuition for 4 week period: $1900
