Archaeology and Museum Studies in Portugal. Roman villa of Santa Catarina de Sitimos

Location: R. da Creche 1, 7580, Portugal

Season: July 20, 2025 to August 30, 2025

Session Dates: August 4-22, 2025

Application Deadline: July 10, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.archaeospain.com/alcacerdosalprogram.html

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Alcácer do Sal archaeological department

Project Director:
Ana Patrícia Magalhães & PhD Dionisio Urbina Martínez

Project Description:

The objective was excavating the bath house and the basins in the production area. New trenches will be dug to identify the area around the domus, the main house.
This archaeological excavation and field school form part of the Santa Catarina de Sítimos Safeguarding Project. Students will actively participate in the visitor development of this site through the Enhancing a Roman Villa workshop, which last year focused on designing informational panels.

A Roman villa consisted of three main areas: the pars urbana – the main residence, the pars fructuaria – the area for land exploitation, and the pars rustica – quarters for slaves and laborers. Archaeologists have excavated only a portion of the Roman Villa of Santa Catarina de Sitimos, uncovering a large pool in the baths and a production building connected to a cellar. There is still a lot to be found, of course, but the materials and masonry already discovered suggest the site has potential to be a major archaeological site.

Period(s) of Occupation: Roman

Notes:
EXCURSIONS. Tróia. the largest sh-salting centre of the Roman Empire. Setúbal is known to be the city of good fish, especially sardine! Have the fortress of S. Luís and a beautiful city center. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, in 2023 continued to be considered the best city on the World Travel Awards. We meet again at Fábrica da Nata at Restauradores to taste the famous bakery of the city, called Pastéis de Nata and head back to our headquarters in Alcácer do Sal. Comporta village and beach. It is the fanciest beach village in Portugal so expect some luxury shops combined with the typical Alentejo houses, in blue and white. Alcácer do Sal. Museum Pedro Nunes, Archaeological Cript, Clock Tower and the Roman Forum.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 3 weeks

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: Not required but appreciated

Room and Board Arrangements:
Program Fees Include: Full room and board (except lunch during excursions). Fieldwork training. Excursions and other activities. Transportation to and from airport on first and last days of the program Daily transport to the site. Medical Insurance. Application fee. Administrative costs. Certificate for 120 hours. The group will stay in the Monte Penedo do Chibato villa located in the nearby village of Montemor-o-Novo, which has shopping, coffee shops, and supermarkets. Our villa is a beautiful country home with a private swimming pool. The praia da Comporta, the fanciest beach in Portugal, is only a 20-minute drive from Alcácer do Sal! We will eat breakfast in our villa. Lunch will be next to the work site in the community center, where we will do our afternoon lab work and workshops. We will eat a catered dinner at our villa.