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.
Last year 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
This five-week (June 17 - July 21, 2018) field school gives students the opportunity
to excavate 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. The fee
for the for-credit program is $4900 (not including airfare and meals). The application
deadline is February 28, and those accepted will be notified by March15. For more
information on the program and how to apply, 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 gives students an introduction to all different
aspects of archaeological work. Excavations take place outside the rural Italian town
of Murlo and within the town of Vescovado di Murlo, and 6 advanced transfer credits
are available from the University of Massachussetts-Amherst. The cost for the program
is $4950 (not including airfare). Their admissions process is rolling, but in order
to be considered for Early Admissions and third party scholarships the application
is due on February 15, 2018. The second application deadline is April 15, 2018. Please
visit www.poggiocivitate.com for more information on the program and how to apply.
Rutgers Archaeological Field School (Upper Sabina Tiberina Project)
This four-week archaeological field school (July 8 – August 5, 2018) involves excavating
a Roman villa in the Tiber River Valley at Vacone, Italy (about 40 miles upriver of
Rome). 6 credits are available from Rutgers University. Estimated costs are $6000
(excluding airfare and weekend meals). The deadline for applying is March 1, 2018;
if you wish to apply after this date, please contact Prof. Farney at gfarney@rutgers.edu. For
more information visit the Rutgers' website.
Other Options
There are many other field schools, as well, so if none of these options work for
you, then you can consult the Archaeological Institute of America’s website for ideas. In addition to field schools in Europe, there are also field schools in
the US and even some here in Texas, so you can get the archaeological experience without
travelling abroad.
Be Sure to Register Your Study Abroad Plans with UD:
These are programs with which UD does not necessarily have a formal partnership. Students
apply directly to and directly pay the program and arrange for transfer credit per
the standard UD Transfer Credit Acceptance Policy.
Students planning on studying in any of these programs should register their intent with the Rome and Study Abroad Office and work with the faculty advisor listed below
(if any) to apply directly to the program.
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