Archaeological Digs
Announcement For Archaeology Project Directors: You can receive front page premium exposure for your fieldwork opportunity before hundreds of students and volunteers who visit this website every week. Submit your project as a featured post here by inquiring at pdmclerran@yahoo.com.
See the latest dig postings, including special featured digs, archaeological tours and archaeological job opportunities, by scrolling down below.
Are you a professional archaeologist, student, volunteer, or avocational archaeologist looking to expand your professional and career connections? Become a part of an interactive, virtual community of archaeologists. Build a network of personally and professionally enhancing relationships by joining ArchaeologyNet, a new and growing business-oriented social network for archaeology. There are archaeological digs and research activities being conducted all over the world. Many archaeological digs are conducted during the summer months; however, some are ongoing throughout the year, and some are being conducted even during the winter months in parts of the world where the climate is favorable. This weblog serves as a gateway to up-to-date information about current archaeological digs, dinosaur digs, archaeological travel tours, and archaeological job opportunities throughout the world. It also features special postings highlighting specific archaeological digs, and other links related to archaeology and archaeological digs.
Archaeological Job Opportunities (This is a current listing of mostly paid positions, updated daily. Click here also if you wish to post an opportunity.)
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My other blogs: Fascinating Paleontology, Fascinating Space and Astronomy, Fascinating Earth Science, Gallery Place
The Roman Project in Bulgaria
Explore not one, but three different ancient Roman sites through this exciting archaeological field school in Bulgaria this summer. Under the auspices of the Bulgarian Archaeological Association (BAA), the fieldwork incorporates a research excavation at different sites and is involved in a larger study of the Roman culture. The BAA field school offers a unique combination of fieldwork, on-site instruction by expert archaeologists, and visits to major museums and open-air sites. Participants have the chance to get their minds, hands, and shovels into the material vestiges of three significant sites (a roman fortress, a roman villa and the biggest roman town in the region). Each destination offers field work processing and recording of artifacts, different lectures and a visit to near-by archaeological locations.
The Roman sanctuary and fortress is situated on the key point and defended the road towards the big towns of the imperial provinces Moesia Infeior and Thracia.
The Roman villa was first discovered by archaeologists in 2002. A rich array of finds has enabled the archaeologists to identify the periods of habitation from 1st to 4th century A.D.
Colonia Ulpia Traiana Ratiaria was the biggest town in contemporary North-West Bulgaria. Since the beginning of the 4th century it was the capital of the Roman province Dacia Rippensis.
Courses: The lectures included in the field school are two types – connected with the fieldwork (how to work with materials found), and theoretical. The first are given every day in the afternoons (20 astronomical hours for two weeks). The topics concern our everyday work on the field - Roman and Late Antique pottery, Metal finds, Roman coins. The theoretical lectures are given twice a week (8 hours) and include the following topics: Roman military fortification system; Roman towns – structure, main buildings and everyday life; Roman economy (agriculture and handicraft) processing in villas; and Roman art (sculpture, mosaic, funeral monuments).
Program Dates: The participants can choose their favorite dates between July 1st and September 15th 2008. The minimum length of stay is two weeks.
Housing: Accommodation is provided by a hotel, which offers shared double-rooms with bathrooms, hot and cold running water, television, and a swimming pool. The hotel is near the sites.
Equipment: The project will supply all basic equipment needs for the duration of the time on site.
Program Cost:
The “Roman project” field school offers five different modules:
Module 1 - Full time stay (two weeks) with all services included; € 1248
Module 2 - Three weeks stay with all services included and three days excursions; € 1687
Module 3 - Four weeks stay with all services included and three days excursions; € 2064
Module 4 - Full time stay (two weeks) without excursions; € 1157
Module 5 - One-week stay whit six days excursion (full tour of the Bulgaria); € 1184
If you are interested, see the website for additional information.
Excavate Ancient Roman Baths and a Thracian Settlement and Sanctuary
Help archaeologists excavate and investigate an impressive complex of ancient Roman baths in Bulgaria this summer. The main activity will focus on the baths, but the work will also involve an investigation of a nearby Thracian settlement and sanctuary, and the total experience will take you back to the 5th - 4th centuries B.C. Located in Hisar, the field school runs from June to August in two-week sessions. Those who would like to stay longer may apply for additional sessions. The work requires no previous experience and it will be led by professional archaeologists. Additionally, an interpreter will join the team, so fluent English is the only requirement. Academic credits are not available, but a museum certificate of participation will be issued. As an added feature, this experience will include a day trip to the famous Thracian tomb in Kazanlak. For more detailed information about the project, the field school, the accommodations, and application procedure, see the website.
Excavate an Early Christian Basilica in Bulgaria
Students and volunteers will have the exciting opportunity this summer to participate in the continuing excavation and investigation of an early Christian basilica in south-western Bulgaria. Operated as a field school, it will run between June and August 2008 as a series of two-week sessions, although those who would like to stay longer may apply for additional sessions. The site is located in the center of the present day town of Sandanski. The work will be directed by a professional archaeologist. Additionally, an interpreter will join the team, so fluent English is the only requirement. Added attractions to this experience will include a field trip to the ancient site of Philippi in Greece and a hands-on course on mosaic production, where participants will work together to create mosaics similar to those found on the floors of the excavated basilica, using the same working techniques as the ancients. For more detailed information about the site, the field school, the accommodations, and the application procedure, see the website.
Investigating Paleoindian Culture in the Yukon
Volunteers and field school students will have the opportunity this summer to participate in ongoing investigations of the Paleoindian presence in the Yukon Territory. Artifacts discovered at the Little John site, where excavations will be conducted, have been dated to 11,000 B.P. Under the instruction of Dr. David Yesner of the University of Alaska and Norman Easton, Principal Investigator, volunteers will be working along with youth and representatives of the White River First Nation of Beaver Creek, Yukon.
Field school students will receive training in excavation, survey, and laboratory techniques as they apply to Paleoindian sites. Lectures will also be given in lithic analysis, faunal analysis, and geoarchaeology.
If you are interested in this opportunity, see the website for details.
Exploring the Roots of Angkor
It may surprise some to know that Angkor Wat was a center of the world's largest urban settlement -- the largest known urban area of the preindustrial era. Recent mapping work has revealed that the sprawling urban metropolis influenced an area of 1,100 square miles, with a massive irrigation system that had no ancient rival. The results of archaeological investigation suggests that the great Angkor civilization eventually collapsed due to overpopulation and environmental issues -- in a sense, it collapsed under its own weight and the inability of the population to effectively manage its resources. There are, however, investigations being conducted that are exploring the opposite end of this spectrum -- how did this civilization begin? What are the origins? Beginning in December, 2007 and continuing into February of 2008, Dr. Charles Higham of the University of Otago, New Zealand, will be leading an expedition of Earthwatch teams in Thailand to recover and analyze evidence of a sophisticated indigenous civilization that, he suggests, may have played a major role in the foundations of the culture associated with this spectacular site. The 2008 investigations will focus on the remains of Ban Non Wat, a large mound ringed by banks and moats. A major objective will be to determine the relationship of the site to other nearby prehistoric sites. Ancient settlements dot the landscape of Thailand, many of which were large and complex enough to leave clues of social organization, technology and trade as early as 2000 B.C. Ban Non Wat represents one of these settlements. The team will excavate and search for human burials, food remains, pottery, metals, and other artifacts. They will dig alongside local villagers and process finds at the field lab. They will stay in the Phimai Inn, which boasts a large swimming pool, hot showers, and air-conditioned rooms, with Western or Thai breakfasts and Thai dinners served under the pavilion next to the swimming pool. The hotel will provide lunch to take to the dig site each day. Volunteers will also have convenient access to the market and to Angkor Wat itself for sightseeing.
If you are interested in joining the team, see the website for more information.
Rediscovering Jamestown
For many years it was assumed by scholars that the original James Fort constructed by English colonists in 1607 at the site of Jamestown, Virginia (the first permanent English colony in America) had long been claimed for oblivion by the waters of the nearby James River; however, since 1994, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, in conjunction with the University of Virginia, have conducted excavations that have revealed thousands of artifacts and soil features clearly identified with the Fort. Thus far, these excavations have uncovered most of the palisade wall lines, bulwarks, cellars, and buildings that were all part of the original James Fort configuration. This is the "glamour dig" of American historical archaeology. It is meticulously executed, well managed, and extremely well documented and published. An ongoing account of the discoveries can be found by going to this site.
You can also apply to be part of this investigation as Dr. William Kelso of the Univesity of Virginia leads a formal field school during the summer of 2008. The field school is designed to teach theory and methods of fieldwork in American Historical Archaeology. Students will learn how to investigate the features related to James Fort and to identify and interpret 17th century European and Native American artifacts. In addition, upon successful completion of the program, students will receive six (6) graduate credits in Anthropology from the University of Virginia. You should know that this would involve a six-week commitment, provided your application is accepted. And if it isn't in the cards for you now, it might be worth keeping it in mind for the future.
FYI:
Publications related to the Jamestown Rediscovery project and the Jamestown historical account.
