Archaeological Field Schools

Archaeological Field Schools

Do you want to experience the ancient world first-hand? Have you ever wondered what it is like to excavate in the very buildings where ancient Romans walked? Do you dream about digging up ancient coins, hairpins, buttons, and dishes? If so, then consider one of the following archaeological field schools. Scholarships and funding are available for all of these programs, as is transfer credit.

Several years ago, five UD students and one faculty member participated in excavations at Gabii; you can read more about their experience in this article.

The Gabii Project Field Program

The Gabii Project field program allows students to spend five weeks excavating on the site of the ancient Latin city of Gabii, located 18 km outside of Rome. 6 transfer credits are available from the University of Missouri. For further information about program dates and fees, visit the project's Gabii page or email gabii.project@gmail.com. You can also read about the Gabii experience on the student blog.

The Poggio Civitate Archaeological Project

This six-week archaeological field school introduces students to all the different aspects of archaeological work. Excavations take place outside the rural Italian town of Murlo and within the town of Vescovado di Murlo. 6 advanced transfer credits are available from the University of Massachussetts-Amherst. The admissions process is rolling, but apply by mid-February to be considered for Early Admissions and third-party scholarships. Please visit the project webpage for more information about the program and the application process.

Rutgers Archaeological Field School (Upper Sabina Tiberina Project)

In this four-week archaeological field school, participants excavate a Roman villa in the Tiber River Valley at Vacone, Italy (about 40 miles upriver of Rome). For further information on program dates, deadlines, and fees, visit the Rutgers' website. 6 credits are available from Rutgers University.

Other Options

This list of field schools is not exhaustive. If none of the above options works for you, you can visit the Archaeological Institute of America’s website to learn about other schools in Europe, the US, and elsewhere.

Registering Your Study Abroad Plans with UD: 

Although UD does not necessarily have a formal partnership with these programs, students may arrange for transfer credit per the standard UD Transfer Credit Acceptance Policy.

Students apply directly to and directly pay the program, but they should still register their intent with the Rome and Study Abroad Office.

Students traveling abroad independently are advised to: 

• Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
• Follow the instructions of local authorities.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist.

Background photo: the Temple of Hephaestus at Athens © 2016 by Isabella Villanueva, BA '18