PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Those who join the archaeological crew at the Celtic-Iron Age necropolis and Roman settlement of Pintia will undertake a unique experience that combines archaeological fieldwork and cultural immersion.
Surrounded by Castilla's idyllic plains, Medieval castles, and Roman ruins, Pintia was once a vibrant pre-Roman city that excelled in metallurgy, agriculture, and textiles.
For the past 10 years, ArchaeoSpain and the University of Valladolid have worked together at Pintia to help create a window into the lives of the ancient Vaccean culture, an Iron Age people with Celtic links that settled in north-central Spain around the 5th century BC.
Our focus is the excavation of their cemetery, located about 300 meters (984 feet) from the main settlement. It was used between the 4th century BC and the 1st century.
Since we began working at Pintia, students have excavated around 150 cremation tombs with a dizzying array of grave goods. The study of these tombs, belonging to men, women, and children, helping scholars understand the social organization of these pre-Roman people.
For example, during one digging campaign we excavated 44 tombs containing around 600 man-made artifacts. In one area around 100 giant limestone slabs (some weighing nearly a metric ton) protected the tombs from subsequent farming and left the funerary jars and grave goods in excellent condition: daggers, broaches, spear points, grills, knives, tongs, tweezers, shaving blades, and necklaces.
One unique characteristic of Pintia grave goods are the ceramic copies of jewelry and other objects that are buried with their owners' ashes and bone fragments.
This coming summer the plan is to continue digging in the necropolis in June and July. Students will learn excavation techniques (from picks and shovels to fine-tool excavation at tomb level), archaeological mapping, and how to extract and process artifacts ranging from 2,500-year-old swords to children's toys. You will also learn how to take samples of the biological materials found in the cremation jars, excavation photography, and how to clean and classify bones.
In addition to the excavation and artifact work, there will be a number of seminars and workshops related to the fieldwork. Three medical professors will teach us about the human skeleton and our pottery expert will teach us how the Vacceans created and decorated their ceramic wares. And then we'll make our own.
And not only will you learn about archaeology, but students are guaranteed an authentic Spanish experience away from the tourist traps. Our village neighbors will take you in like long-lost relatives, making sure that you eat, drink, and dance enough to compensate for all the picking, shoveling, and sifting.
Do not worry if you do not speak Spanish because it is not a prerequisite to participate. Bilingual archaeologists will guide you during your stay. Those that sign up, though, will be immersed in the language daily and we hope that they will take advantage of the program to improve their spoken Spanish. The summer heat and the physical nature of the excavation will make the work demanding, so participants should be in reasonable physical condition and in good health.
But hard work always reaps its benefits once an archaeologist relaxes and reflects on the day's excavation. With this mantra in place, the group will make time several times each week to experience Spain away from the wheelbarrows and sieves, either by hanging out at the village pub or by visiting several nearby Roman and Medieval sites of interest.
In cooperation with students' universities, academic
credit can be obtained.
Click here to
learn more about receiving credit.
PLEASE NOTE that the partnership between the University of Valladolid and ArchaeoSpain means that ArchaeoSpain will handle all logistical and administrative efforts prior to the excavation. Once at Pintia, the university is responsible for everything else, including the fieldwork, seminars, workshops, bilingual team leaders, room and board, and excursions.
Pintia is one of the longest continuous archaeological projects in all of Spain, and part of your fee goes toward financing the excavation.