2025 Chelva, Spain (Session I): Medieval Monastery Excavation – In Search of the Buried Viscounts

Location: Chelva

Season: May 4, 2025 to May 31, 2025

Application Deadline: March 21, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.fieldsciences.org/program/2025-spain-chelva-church-i/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Center for Field Scioences, Universidad Europea Valencia (Spain) and Fundación Antonia Calavel (Spain)

Project Director:
Dr. Llorenç Alapont Martin and Mr. Juan José Ruiz Lopez

Project Description:

The Chelva Monastery was established 1390 CE, the oldest Franciscan mission in Spain. By the 16th century, the Church of San Francisco was built attached to the convent, in a Late Gothic style. According to written records, between 1551-1558 CE the Viscounts of Chelva – important leaders of the Iberian period – were buried under the alter of the church (Fig 1). This project is design to verify the validity of these textual records, excavate the remains of these important figures and study the life and death of elite, individuals from the nobility class of the period.
Today, the Chelva monastery complex is standing abandoned – although it is periodically used for ceremonial purposes. The Chelva’s Fondaction Antonia Clavel manage the complex and in the process of renovating and bringing back to use the structure and its environments. Part of this renovation is a study of the history of area, with special focus on the role Chelva and its past political leaders played in the shift from Iberian to Spanish identity and political structure. The excavation of the Viscounts burials should shed significant light on such processes and will help in building a more complete narrative to the history of the structure and the region.

It is not certain that the written records are correct and that the Viscounts are, indeed, buried under the alter. A long tradition in Catholic churches is to bury past leaders under the floor of important areas within the church, so the written records are in line with historical traditions. If we do find the burials and if these are the Viscounts, we anticipate a significant media interest within, and likely outside the Iberian Peninsula. Students should expect this potential media interest and attend the program only if they feel comfortable with such exposure.

Period(s) of Occupation: Medieval Period

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 archaeological research. Field work involves physical work and exposure to the elements and thus requires a measure of understanding that this will not be the typical university learning environment. You will have to work outdoors and will get sweaty and tired. Students are required to come equipped with sufficient excitement and adequate understanding that field work requires real, hard work, in the sun and wind. The work requires patience, discipline, and attention to detail.

Room and Board Arrangements:
All staff and student will be staying at the 14th Century Franciscan convent. Each student will get a private room that is simple but comfortable. 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. Wi-Fi is available throughout the convent. The project provides breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week, except for lunch and dinner during trip days (normally Saturday) and free day (normally Sunday). Please let us know of any dietary restrictions (vegetarian/vegan) so that we may inform the restaurant in advance.

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