SURVIVORS' TALES
"It is amazing how something as simple as pottery shards
serve as valuable insight to the history of the Roman Empire. I really
enjoyed
learning how to identify the typology and epigraphy of the amphorae and
seeing how the archaeologists recorded each piece of epigraphy. The experts
were always willing to translate the meanings and possible reasons for
the titles, stamps and graffiti found.
"The site itself is amazing because here you are on a man-made hill of amphorae with shards wherever you look and walk, and on top of that you never forget that you are in Rome because of the beautiful view of the city. You really feel a connection with the city and its detailed history."
—Kathleen Puglisi, Rome/New Jersey, 2009
"I had such a blast with the crew and learning about Testaccio and its many treasures. It was truly satisfying to, in the heart of Rome, productively participate in the long process of cleaning, recording and matching amphorae the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. It was an incredible experience... I enjoyed trying to identify the old script and numerals on the amphorae after a lecture from one of the archaeologists, whose passion and knowledge of the ancient Latin script was inspiring, as was the case with all of the professors and staff. Anyone with a love of the outdoors, of history and someone who enjoys meeting new and interesting people should consider an ArchaeoSpain program."
—Susan Ulbrich, Durham, CT, 2008
"I
went in expecting to learn something new every day and I wasn’t disappointed.
Seeing new data recording methods, excavation technique, artifact sorting/conservation
was all very interesting... I really enjoyed exploring Trastevere and Testaccio
after work and searching for good food! And Toni is great! He is knowledgeable,
outgoing and excited about what he is doing."
— Shelly Martin, Boulder, CO, 2008
"It was a thrill to handle shards of pottery that had been created and used during the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius…We were fascinated to learn how archaeologists go about re-constructing details of Spanish-Roman wine commerce from the amphorae discarded by the Romans. We also enjoyed learning about ancient Roman commercial activities in evening discussions with the archaeologists working on the project… Anyone with an interest in ancient history and archaeology and an appetite for city life would love this program."
—Alan Spier, Glastonbury, CT, 2006
"Not only are you surrounded by the beautiful city of Rome, but you have your hands on it at Testaccio… you learn how important the everyday activities were to the structure of the Roman society."
—Cate Cotier, Mesa Community College, 2005
"I learned that there are many others, like me, who love
archaeology, and, if you're patient, your efforts are rewarded with wonderful
results. I still enjoy the gratification and satisfaction of my finds and
of helping the Testaccio project, if only a small part… Although I
had been to Rome before, this time I saw a completely different side of
the Eternal City. I felt like a Roman, as we set off each day to work. I
was no longer just a tourist. Rome is more than a city. It's an experience,
a state of mind, never to be forgotten!"
— Marion Sudol, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, 2005
"The program was very in depth with the archaeology projects we worked on. It was beyond a typical "hands on" experience. Our group leaders were able to provide us with detailed accounts of the history and significance of our archaeological dig. I learned that it archaeology takes a lot of research and preparation before attending the dig site. It also takes a lot of patience and one is not going to find a golden nugget on the first day. However, when you discover something out of the ground from the dig site that no one has seen before it is a very exciting experience. Digging up clues from the past is an adventure."
—Sheldon Erb, New York City, 2005