The Gabii Project 2011 Field Program

The Gabii Project is conducting urban excavations in the Latin city of Gabii, some 18 km due east of Rome, Italy.

The Project

The project began in 2007 with a two-year phase of geophysical survey in Gabii’s former urban area. Following the completion of the survey phase, large scale urban excavations began in May 2009 and continued in 2010. The excavation team is a multi-national group of scholars and professional archaeologists, directed by Nicola Terrenato (University of Michigan), Jeffrey Becker (Brown University), Anna Gallone, and Marcello Mogetta (University of Michigan). The project practices field archaeology at the cutting edge of field methodology and recording techniques. The project exposes its staff and students to these methods in an environment that is focused both on research and teaching.

The Field Program

The field program, with places for 35 volunteers, exposes students to the fieldwork at Gabii and involves them directly in the project’s research agenda. Students will work in small groups supervised by experienced excavators and will also participate in finds processing and analysis, topographical data collection, environmental sampling, and other aspects of fieldwork. Regular on-site tours and lectures, as well as weekly lectures at the hotel, will help to contextualize both the site and the field of Classical archaeology.

Application information (deadline is February 28, 2011)

• Applications are accepted online via the project’s website, http://sitemaker.umich.edu/gabiiproject. Applications consist of the completed online data form as well as two letters of recommendation.
• All qualified students are eligible to apply, not just those associated with the University of Michigan.
• Notifications of acceptance will be made by March 15, 2011, and accepted volunteers must submit their payment in full by April 1, 2011, in order to secure their spot. The cost for the 6-week program, inclusive of room and board, insurance, equipment, and local transportation, will be$4,600 (USD) in 2011.
• It is not possible to receive academic credit for participation in the field program.

Accommodation

• The Hotel Villa Mercedein Frascati, Italy, will serve as the Gabii Project's base of operations.
• Volunteers will be accommodated in shared rooms (2 to 4 people per room) with a private bathroom.
• Convenient local train service links Frascati to downtown Rome and regional buses provide other transportation options.

Work on-site

• Volunteers will work on site 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Applicants should note that this is a labor-intensive program and be aware that working long hours in the hot sun is to be expected. Average daytime temperatures will be in the range of above 90Ëš F.
• Applicants must be in good health, have passed a recent physical examination, and provide up-to-date records of current inoculations.

Need more information?

Contact Jeffrey Becker via email (gabiiproject@umich.edu) or at 401-863-2008.