Armenia: Masis Blur 2018 field school

Location: Masis, AM

Season: June 24, 2018 to July 28, 2018

Application Deadline: April 20, 2018

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://ifrglobal.org/program/armenia-masis-blur/

Program Type:
Field school

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
Institute for Field Research, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA

Project Director:
Ms. Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky, Dr. Alan Farahani

Project Description:

The Masis Blur Archaeological Project is investigating one the of the first farming settlements in the Ararat Plain of Armenia, named Masis Blur, to better understand how farming and sedentism became an established way of life in this region. The site dates to ca. 6200 BCE and was continuously occupied for nearly a millennium. At Masis Blur we have uncovered well-preserved Neolithic houses with accompanying storage bins, trash middens, and open courtyards used for day-to-day activities. The rich artifact assemblages attest to a lively village community that engaged in farming and animal husbandry, and processed minerals to obtain colorful pigments used in painting.

In 2018 students will take part in the excavation of a unit opened in 2017 as well as the opening of a new excavation unit. Set within the wider context of Armenian Neolithic archaeology, students will learn a range of excavation techniques, as well as methods of processing, documentation, and analysis of prehistoric material remains.

Period(s) of Occupation: Neolithic

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Participants must stay for the entire duration of the field school.

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: No prior experience is required to participate in this field school.

Room and Board Arrangements:
Lodging: Students and staff will be staying in a dedicated excavation house in a quiet neighborhood in Yerevan. The accommodations are shared bedrooms, with two to five persons per room. Western-style showers and plumbing will be available at the excavation house, along with a kitchen and basic supplies for after-hours self-service. Sheets, pillows, and towels will be provided, but participants should bring personal hygiene products or purchase these in Yerevan. The dig house will have WIFI. Meals: Three meals (Armenian cuisine) per day are provided during the work week (Monday-Saturday). Students are responsible for their weekend meals (Sat dinner and Sun breakfast and lunch). This program can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets. However, kosher and gluten-free diets are not possible to accommodate at this location. Cost: Room and board are included in the cost of the field school.

Academic Credit:
8 Semester Credits credits offered by Connecticut College. Tuition is $4,220.