Archaeological Techniques and Research Center

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Roman Sarmizegetusa Excavation

          Students and volunteers will be housed in a beautifully renovated rural villa in the village of Sarmizegetusa. Full room and board is provided. The participants will enjoy a variety of traditional, home made Roumanian dishes. Flavorful local Romanian wines will be served with dinner.

          Basic toiletries, food and drinks can be bought in the village at a reasonable price. Banking and health services can be accessed from the nearby towns, which are less than 45min drive from the sites.

Roman Castrum Excavation

          Students and volunteers will be housed in town in double or triple occupancy rooms in a pension in Racos.

          No meals are included in the project fee. However, a dinner option is available:  traditional Romanian cooking from the pension’s chef.  Dinners Sunday through Friday. Additional $200 for full 5 weeks. (Those planning shorter stays or have dietary restrictions should contact for further information) Please indicate in application if you want the Dinner Option.

Bronze Age Excavation and Survey

          Students and volunteers will be housed in town in double or triple occupancy rooms in a hotel in Cluj-Napoca. Breakfast and dinner will be served at a local restaurant during workdays. Traditional, organic Transylvanian wine will be served with dinner.

          A variety of stores and other small restaurants can be found in town, providing for every need. Banks, internet access, health services are in the immediate proximity.

Dacian (Iron Age) Fortress Excavation

         Our project is situated a few kilometers from the village of Racos. We will be staying in small and cozy wild camping site, about 15 min walk from the excavation area. Be aware, while the temperatures might get quite hot during the day, it will be significantly cooler at night, so consider bringing a few sweaters and a warm sleeping bag. Regardless of the project, we always get a few days of rain, therefore a water resistant tent is a must. There are several mountain rivers near the campsite, excellent for bathing, washing, and fishing.

          There are several other villages within a few miles radius from the camp. There, basic toiletries and food can be bought at a reasonable price. Banking and health services can be accessed from the nearby towns, which are less than 30min drive from the sites.

Cooking in the field

          In the case of the Iron Age projects, we will be cooking on the open fire and gas stoves. In the mornings, we will generally have a light snack consisting of tea/coffee, and sandwiches. Lunch will be eaten during rest breaks on site. Excellent quality cheese and dairy products as well as fresh vegetables can be bought locally from villagers. Since physical work in the field will be demanding, meat or another good source of proteins should be consumed for dinner (BBQs are very popular in the field).

OSTEOLOGY WORKSHOPS

         These osteology workshops will take place in Cluj-Napoca a city rich in history and culture, as it is reflected in its name: Cluj, the Dacian fortress, and Napoca, the Roman city. It is very cosmopolitan town, featuring a world renowned university, theaters, an opera hall and a multitude of restaurants and pubs throughout the old city.

          Students and volunteers will be housed in double or triple occupancy rooms within walking distance from downtown Cluj-Napoca and the Museum. Cluj-Napoca has a plethora of pubs, restaurants and fast food joints. One can readely enjoy very good pub fare as well as Romanian traditional cuisine, accompanied with an assortment of great local wines or beer. Although prices have skyrocketed as the city became one of the most important cultural and economic centers of Romania, the cost of food has remained relatively low. There are plenty of stores and supermarkets that can fulfill almost any need.