Since the middle of the first century BC, the Dacians – “the bravest and the fairest of all the Thracians” (Herodotus) – have continuously been a clear and present danger for the Romans. The various encounters between the Roman legions and the Dacian kings ended mostly in Dacian victories, culminating with the great and humiliating Roman defeat in 87AD at the First Battle of Tapae. In 106AD, after two campaigns (102-103AD and 105-106AD), Trajan finally succeeded in conquering the Dacia. Our Daco-Roman field project offers students and volunteers two unique excavation opportunities in Transylvania (Romania): Sarmizegetusa, the Roman Capital of the Dacian Provinces, and Racos, the second most important military and religious center in Iron Age Dacia:

Excavation: Dacian Acropolis - Piatra Detunata / Durduia

Location: Racos Commune, Brasov County (Southern Transylvania), Romania

Period: Wietenberg (Bronze Age), Hallstatt, LaTene (Iron Age)

Excavation dates: June 3 - July 7, 2012

More information: http://www.archaeotek.org/iron_age_dacian_fortress

Contact e-mail: archaeology@archaeotek.org

Description: The area of the upper Olt River basin between Racos and Augustin, about 12 km in length (jud. Brasov, Romania), has yielded a very complex pattern of settlements, rivaling the Dacian Sarmizegetusa Regia capital complex. Military structures have been identified at Tipia Racosului and Tipia Augustinului. Several other settlements of various sizes have been surveyed on every hill top in the region. The most important feature of the area was the heavily fortified religious and military center of Augustin/Tipia Ormenisului. Our site of Piatra Detunata - Durduia (com. Racos, jud. Brasov, Romania) is situated approximately 4 km from the religious/military center from Augustin/Tipia Ormenisului. The LaTene site is composed by a series of fortified civilian settlements, in very close proximity to one another, spread over a complex and contrasted landscape. The importance of the site also lies in the fact that it was one of the very few that wasn't evacuated as the Roman legions invaded Dacia in 102-106AD. In 2009, we also uncovered several very rich Bronze Age votive shacks, pointing to the presence of a temple complex nearby, adding significant temporal depth to our understanding of the religious landscape.

Excavation: Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana – Roman Capital of the Dacian Provinces

Location: Sarmizegetusa, Hunedoara County (Southern Transylvania), Romania

Period: Imperial Roman

Excavation dates: July 8 - August 7, 2012

More information: http://www.archaeotek.org/roman_capital_of_the_dacian_provinces

Contact e-mail: archaeology@archaeotek.org

Description: Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, the Roman Capital of the Dacian Provinces and first Roman city north of the Danube, is situated in the plains north of the majestic Retezat Mountains, commanding several passes across the Carpathians. Its presence in the heartland of the Dacian kingdoms, a few kilometers away from Sarmizegetusa Regia, the civil and religious capital of the defeated Dacians, is a complex statement of Roman colonial strategies. In 2012, our excavation will continue the exploration of the Forum and associated temples as well as identifying domestic living structures outside the public plazzas. We will also survey the city necropolises and possibly start work on a funeral household enclosure.

• Learn about materials, manufacturing processes and the evolution of the ceramic technology
• Typologies of ceramic objects from the Classical, Medieval and Early Modern period, normally found in archaeological sites in Central Italy.
• Analysis and documentation of ceramic artifacts, including diagnostic pottery and architectural components for their materials, morphology and object typology
• Conservation including: cleaning, reassembly, infill techniques and presentation methods
• Categorizing, organizing and storage of pottery sherds and other ceramic artifacts

Some of the work in the workshop will be done using recently excavated materials from the Baths of the ancient Roman town of Carsulae.

We have a couple of spaces left, so we are extending the deadline for applications to March 31st, 2012.

Contact: Polly Withers, San Gemini Preservation Studies, pwithers@iirpsemail.org

Further information: please visit the course WEBSITE and find our course flyer.

This summer, discover an ancient South Pacific culture!

The Marquesas Archaeological Field School project, sponsored by AFAR (Andover Foundation for Archaeological Research), is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about archaeology in practice and intimately experience an indigenous island village at the same time. It will be led by Dr. Barry Rolett of the University of Hawaii (leading his fifteenth archaeological expedition to the islands) and Emily Donaldson (Doctoral student in anthropology at McGill University).

Now in its eighth year, the project consists of an archaeological dig (no experience necessary!), including post-excavation analysis and mapping. Our work focuses on the Tahuata valleys of Vaitahu and Hanamiai, where beautifully intact remains of residential and ceremonial centers lie amidst coconut plantations and forests of breadfruit, banana and mango. Some improvements will also be made to the small, unique community museum of Tahuata, which houses and displays the artifacts we find. In addition to archaeology and other hands-on research, lectures on Marquesan culture and language will be offered. Students will also have the opportunity to learn some native crafts such as weaving, making flower leis, jewelry making, fishing, and grating coconuts.

The field school will take place from June 30 to August 11, 2012. Students will stay with the project leaders in the home of a Marquesan family, equipped with a modern kitchen and toilet facilities (no hot water). The small size of the field school invites students to immerse themselves in the islands and the richness of Marquesan culture! Please see the website for additional information and photographs of past field school projects.

ALL ARE WELCOME. The deadlines for finalizing the project participants will be here before you know it, so APPLY NOW! All applications must be received by March 15, 2012.

Academic credit from the University of Hawaii can be arranged. Participants pay for their own airfare, and a tax-deductible donation of $7000 is required for project participation. This fee covers lodging, food and inter-island transport expenses.

Further information is available at the official website, www.afargo.org. For additional questions or to apply, please contact Professor Rolett at rolett@hawaii.edu or Emily Donaldson at emily.donaldson@mail.mcgill.ca.

We thank you, and look forward to hearing from you.