PSU Anthropology Department

Summer field opportunities in field archaeology and bioarchaeology in Transylvania (Romania) – see attached fliers or visitwww.archaeotek-archaeology.org for more information.

Our programs are intensive hands-on projects designed to immerse our participants in an active research environment and provide the opportunity for the acquisition of practical, technical and specialized field skills. Our research area focuses on Transylvania (Romania), a region essential to the prehistoric and historic development of the Old World – Europe. Transylvania, by its geographic position as one of the main access roads in and out of Europe, and by its highly fertile lands and natural resources (i.e. salt, copper, tin, iron, silver, gold, etc.), was at the core of the multiscalar transformative processes instrumental in European construction.

In this context, our research looks at processes of crisis management in liminal space-time environments, such as the European frontier. We are currently interested in two major continuity breaks in the region: the first one triggered by the collapse of the Dacian Kingdoms after their final defeat in 106AD by Trajan’s legions and subsequent colonization; and the second one following the defeat of the European armies at the Battle on Mohacs in 1526 and subsequent Ottoman invasion. We are focusing on questions of transition and persistence in liminal contexts, creolization, identity and status negotiation/representation in unstable and dynamic environments, socio-cultural and spiritual adaptation as it pertains to mortality, health and salvation in times of crisis.

To this effect, we have several on-going projects, open to both credit students and non-credit volunteers:

Applied FIELD METHODS:

• Applied Field Geophysics Workshop – Intensive Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey and Analysis (May 29 – July 1, 2016; intensive 5 day sessions)
• Field Museology, Ethnoarchaeology and Traditional Crafts Workshop (June 5 – July 2, 2016)
• Roman Military Survey – Field Survey Methods for Settlement Identification (June 5 – July 2, 2016)

ARCHAEOLOGY – EXCAVATION (2 weeks minimum):

• Roman Settlement Excavation – Life by the Imperial Roads (May 29 – July 2, 2016)
• Roman Villa Excavation – Identity and Wealth on the Roman Frontier (July 3 – August 6, 2016)
• Roman Military Excavation – A Soldier’s Life on the Frontier (July 3 – August 6, 2016)
• Roman Imperial Urban Excavation – Sarmizegetusa, First Roman City North of the Danube (July 3 – August 6, 2016)

BIOARCHAEOLOGY – EXCAVATION (associated 3 and 4 week intensive osteology labs are separate):

• Medieval Cemetery Funerary Excavation – Lost Churches Project (June 12 – July 2 and July 3 – July 23, 2016)
• Deviant Mass Grave Medieval Mortuary Excavation – Crisis and Pathology (May 22 – June 11 andJune 12 – July 2, 2016)

For more information, see attached brochures, or visit our website: www.archaeotek-archaeology.org , or contact us at archaeology@archaeotek.org . All our projects are designed as intensive hands-on field experience programs, complemented by evening lectures, and, as such, are open to both credit students and non-credit participants. For thousands of pictures and perspectives from our past participants, visit our Facebook ArchaeoTek Community page.

Our projects are open to both credit students (both undergraduate and graduate) and non-credit participants (both student and non-student).

Roman_Urban Excavation_2016
Roman_Settlment_Excavation_2016
Roman_Military_Survey_2016
Roman_Military_Excavation_2016
Mass_Grave_Excavation_2016
Field_Museology_2016
Field_Geophysics_2016
Cemetery_Excavation_2016
Roman_Urban Excavation_2016