PROJECT

Research Question and Course Overview

Within the context of research on the pre-Roman cultural landscape of Southern Italy we invite students to join us in an archaeological field school at the archaeological site of Roccagloriosa located in the UNESCO World Heritage Cilento National Park. The Lucanian settlement, comprised of massive fortification walls, monumental public architecture, domestic architecture, and tombs documents the development of a Lucanian settlement. This year work will concentrate on exploring the habitations on the Central Plateau.

 

The project is designed to teach students about archaeological field methodology, processing of material finds, and geophysical prospection in archaeology. Participants receive course credit from the department of History and Classics and are enrolled in Classics 475/476 (undergrad) or 601/602 (graduate level). Enrollment is not limited to University of Alberta students and applications from participants from other universities are welcome.

 

The course is taught in 6 modules, including lectures, museum and site visits, excavation, laboratory practice, record keeping, and interpretation of finds. The course emphasizes archaeological interpretation within the cultural and historical context of pre-Roman Italy.

Human nature seems to me to provide a standard of law and justice both for the home and for the city.

Aesara of Lucania

Roccagloriosa

Visual contextualization of the site

Field School

The Academic Program

This course is taught in modules: ​

Module 1: Geography, geology, and history of the area 600 BCE - 1000 CE (Includes museum and site tours)

Module 2: Geophysical examination and interpretations

Module 3: Excavation of test trenches

Module 4: Excavation journal and record keeping

Module 5: Processing material culture in laboratory including photography and digital imaging

Module 6: Interpretative essay

​

Students will be graded on their performance in each of the modules except the first module, which provides the basis for understanding the significance of the site. 

In a simple direct sense, archaeology is a science that must be lived, must be “seasoned with humanity.” Dead archaeology is the driest dust that blows.

Sir Mortimer Wheeler

Contact

tanya.henderson@ualberta.ca

For more information please contact:

Dr. Tanya Henderson

Department of History and Classics 

Tory 2-28

University of Alberta

Edmonton, AB T6G 2H4

​

Application Form