SURVIVORS' TALES
"My
month in Spain was an amazing experience that I will never forget. At first
I found the idea of living in a foreign country with people I didn’t
know a daunting prospect, however after taking the plunge I never looked
back. The archaeology was fascinating and rewarding – there’s
nothing like the satisfaction of discovering your first tomb."
—Rachel Whittington, Durham University
"Archaeology is all about getting your hands dirty, and the Pintia course shows you what a career in field archaeology is really like. We were encouraged to take part in every step of the excavation process, and all the staff were experienced in their fields and helped play a part in making our experience well-informed, enjoyable and rewarding. Also, we were immersed in Spanish culture as each week we went on well-organised excursions to various historic cities. We had plenty of time to let our hair down too, with a canoe trip down the Duero river and an exhilarating fiesta experience in nearby Peñafiel. This course is first-rate, an unforgettable month."
—Aileen Tierney, County Meath, Ireland
"No
matter how much you study at school about archaeological theory and practice,
nothing compares to actually working at an archaeological site – from
how to dig, draw, clean pottery, and excavate a tomb, I've probably gained
more practical knowledge in a month here than in two years at college."
—Shane Shelby, Columbia University
"I think is is very important that we were able to try almost every excavation process as well as experiencing the post-excavation techniques. It was great that the archaeologists gave us so much freedom so we were actually able to learn and practice. And I felt honored that we were welcomed into the community and considered part of the village, even if only for a month. One of my favorite experiences was playing dominoes in the bar with one of the locals."
—Katherine Jablonski, Tulane University
"I had done one other dig before so I knew the general outline of how an excavation was supposed to go, but this program definitely helped me understand the process in more detail and experience everything from breaking ground to taking soil samples. And the staff was amazing. Both on and off the site they helped us get the most out of the program. They helped us when we had any problems and gave us all constructive criticism during the dig and lab work."
—Annelies Van de Ven, University of St. Andrews
Read Annelies's Careers Wiki Post on Pintia for St. Andrews
"I learned all the skills I need to make me competent in the field: what to look for, how to excavate, drawing, photography and restoration. And the staff is amazing. There were never any divisions between instructors and students. We were like a big family."
—Katie Daniel, Ohio State University
"Taking
out my first Iron Age tomb is an experience I will never forget, which felt
especially gratifying after the two weeks of digging to reach it. And visiting
the different Spanish sites provided a wide range of experiences to add
to our increasing knowledge of Spain."
—Nicholas Chaudakshetrin, Exeter University
"This past month we have learned how to excavate, measure, map and analyze tombs and other archaeological artifacts. It was a true hands-on experience as the staff and professors let us fully participate in the excavation process. I recommend this program to anyone who wants a practical introduction into archaeology and who wants to have a more extensive view in the study of ancient history."
—Victoria Schuppert, Wheaton College
"The archaeology I experienced during this program is something I could have never found in a class or book. I had read about the excavation process, the mapping and surveying, the drawing and more, but it wasn't until I actually was able to experience it firsthand that I knew what it all meant. And I really learned what it was like to live in a Spanish environment. Something that I will never forget is the time we spent in Padilla de Duero. It was so wonderful getting to know everyone in the program, especially because we all came from such different backgrounds."
—Emily Cleland, St. Thomas University
"We
had the opportunity to study a site on paper, in the field and speak one-on-one
with the professional archaeologists who have dedicated their lives to Pintia.
I never thought I'd feel at home outside my hometown, but this month changed
my mind."
—Victoria Weaver, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
"I will never forget the morning I went out early with a few others to uncover the first tomb. I got such an adrenaline rush when we exposed the pottery and the dagger. I spent all day in the trench lifting finds out of the tomb, which was so rewarding after all that hard work. Before I went to Pintia I knew very little about how the evidence of ancient history was actually gathered, but now I feel like I know a great deal, from how to excavate the trenches and handle the archaeological material to mapping and processing the tombs in the lab. The work requires a lot of patience and effort, but the rewards of excavating tombs, going on fantastic excursions and just getting to know lots of really interesting people are incredible!"
—Henry Clarke, Oxford University
"Archaeology is hard work, requiring reliance on others in order for the digging to run smoothly. But it is very rewarding work when you have that sense of wonder when you remove your first pottery sherd or human bone or bronze broach. Digging, brushing, and feeling that sense of discovery each time is awesome. There is a good taste of everything, from historical sites to nature walks to the food and digging each day... there was never a dull moment."
—Landon Perlett, University of Saskatchewan
"For those planning to take on this adventure, I would say to use
siesta time for sleeping, take a daily journal of everything you do, bring
a loaded iPod and a positive attitude. The work is well worth it when the
day is over, but everything here is what you make of it. The cuisine is
superb, especially if you're willing to try new things, and local people
are warm and inviting. The staff at Pintia are incredible: prepared, energetic
and they worked hard every day alongside us. The best care was taken for
all aspects of the trip and no detail was passed."
—Michelle Whipp, Louisiana State University
"The Pintia dig provided a perfect introduction to the complete archaeological process, from swinging a pick and shovel, to excavating and conserving finds, and all the steps between. And all of this practical knowledge was supplemented by an education in the Vaccean people to provide context to the finds. There is a thrill unlike any other when you remove a pot from the dirt and you realise that you are holding something that was put into the ground 2,500 years ago by another human being."
—Trevor Jordan, Sydney, Australia
"It
would be impossible to sum up everything I learned in a few sentences, but
if you go on this trip you will learn. The lectures were very informative
and, paired with the digging, were a wonderful opportunity. But I was happiest
in the trenches with a pickaxe, shovel, sieve or brush in hand. It was the
experience as a whole – the ups, downs, frustrations, excitement,
the good, the bad, the ugly (and after a day in the trenches you ARE ugly)
– that made this such a worthwhile experience."
—Stephanie Bullard, Springfield, Ohio
"I love the Spanish lifestyle! Also, I learned that Spain has an amazing history and too many interesting historical and archaeological sites for one trip. I would recommend the program to anyone new to archaeology who wants to get a feel for what it really involves, to people interested in experiencing another culture at close quarters, and also to those who love doing jigsaw puzzles (handy when trying to piece together broken pottery)."
—Cristy Gelling, University of Pittsburgh
"I
think most anyone would get something out of Pintia but it will appeal most
to people who really want to learn more about Spain and get hands-on experience
with the excavations. All of it is such an immensely cultural interaction
that anyone interested in people will get a tremendous feeling of understanding
of a world outside their own, as well as a nice bit of archaeology and history."
—Scott Brownlie, Kent State University
"I'll never forget being the first person in 2,400 years to see a Vaccean spearhead as it appeared in the ground. I loved learning about this forgotten culture whose way of life we are bringing back to light. We are on the front-line of history."
—Nik Cox, Rotorua, New Zealand
"Every day was a learning experience, from being on the site to experiencing Spanish culture. The pottery-making session led by Carlos was amazing. He is a magician! But our time excavating the wall was my favorite because everyone really bonded there, from our mud fights, wheelbarrow rides and races to the 'pool' we created. These memories will always be close to my heart."
—Jingyi Zhang, Durham University