2025 Forensic Archaeology of Mass Executions During the Spanish Civil War, Chelva (Spain), Session II

Location: Chelva

Season: June 1, 2025 to June 28, 2025

Application Deadline: April 4, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.fieldsciences.org/program/2025-spain-chelva-civil-war-ii/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Center for Field Sciences and Universidad Europea Valencia

Project Director:
Dr. Llorenç Alapont Martin

Project Description:

The Spanish Civil War was fought from 1936 to 1939, between Republican and Nationalist forces. The war began in 1936, when General Francisco Franco initiate a coup d’état against the democratically elected Republican Spanish state. Franco wanted to establish a fascist state in Spain and was supported by the then contemporary fascist regimes of Germany and Italy. The Spanish Civil War is considered by many around the world as a struggle between dictatorship and democracy and was internationalised almost immediately. Volunteers from around the world joined combatants of both sides. By 1939, Franco’s forces won the war, and the regime began an intensive, long-term process of liquidation of its foes.

Castellón began to be directly affected by the Spanish Civil War at the end of March 1938. With the defeat of Republican forces at Teruel, General Aranda – the commander of the Nationalist army – advanced toward Castellón. The town fell to the Nationalist forces on June 14, 1938, and the regime began its ‘liquidation’ program immediately. This program is focused of studying human remains from the long liquidation process at Castellón.

The ‘liquidation’ of political opponents at Castellón took place in three different phases. From July to October 1938, irregular killings were carried out in the streets and exits of the town, on the roads or in local cemeteries. From November 1938 to February 1939, official files were created for detainees. No judicial process was followed, and immediate death sentences were signed by the military. The third phase was an institutional one. The regime created official War Councils, and a semi-judicial process was followed before death sentences were issued. That phase lasted until 1956. The vast majority of those executed in Castellón and its hinterland were killed during the third phase.

Recent excavations of a mass grave at the cemetery of Castellón, human remains of 51 individuals were exhumed. Due to legal protocols and chain-of-custody procedures followed by the Spanish authorities, the remains were transferred to Chelva, the Valencia regional hub for Civil War human remains.

This field school is focused on studying the remains to determine identity, cause of death and other forensic elements. We have two main goals. The first is to create proper documentation standing to contemporary legal standards so perpetrators can be prosecuted (a political decision) and historical truth established. Second, we hope to identify victims from mass graves and return to families so individuals may be intern with named, marked graves.

Each student will be responsible for the complete recording & study of at least one individual, and more if time permits. This program includes extensive travel to local Civil War sites, including Teruel and Valencia. Students will learn how to contextualize the analysis of human remains with historical events, how to engage with stakeholders and how to study victims of war atrocities and mass burials.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
The Center for Field Sciences was established to support field training in a range of sciences at sites within the U.S. & across the world. Traveling and conducting field work involves risk. Students interested in participating in any CFS program must weigh the potential risk against the value of education provided by the program of their choosing.

Risk is inherent in everything we do and the CFS takes risks seriously. A committee of leading scholars review each field school location prior to approval. Once a program is accepted, the CFS continually monitor conditions at the program’s site and so we can provide an experience that is as safe as possible.

The CFS does not provide trip or travel cancellation insurance. Students are encouraged to explore such insurance policies on their own. Post Covid 19, most basic policies do not cover trip cancelation due to pandemics. If you wish to purchase an insurance policy that covers such contingencies, explore Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) plans. Insuremytrip.com, Squaremouth.com or Travelguard.com are possible websites where students may explore different insurance policies.

Students should be aware that conditions in the field are different than those experienced at home, dorms or college towns. Students will be exposed to the elements, live in rustic accommodation, and expect to engage in daily physical activity.

We do our best to follow schedule and activities as outlined in this syllabus. Yet local permitting agencies, political, environmental, personal, and/or weather conditions may force changes. This syllabus, therefore, is only a general commitment. Students should allow flexibility and adaptability as research work is frequently subject to modification.

All students must consult medical professionals to ensure they are fit to participate in a CFS field program. CFS is not qualified to provide medical advice. For all other concerns, please consult with CFS staff members or program director(s) – as appropriate.

Period(s) of Occupation: Spanish Civil War

Notes:
Tuition cost is $4,350; Program awards 8 semester credit units (equivalent to 12 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full session

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: None. This is hands-on, experiential learning and students will study on-site how to conduct forensic archaeology research. Forensic work requires patient, respect and understanding of the capacity of humans for extreme violence. It demands discipline and attention to detail.

Room and Board Arrangements:
All staff and student will be staying 14th century Franciscan convent. The rooms are individual simple, comfortable, and welcoming with free WiFi. The convent has large rooms, bathrooms, showers, library, dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, conference room, recreation and outdoor dining area, as well as a barbecue area.

Academic Credit:
Program awards 8 semester credit units (equivalent to 12 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College