Trasimeno Archaeology Field School

The Trasimeno Archaeology Field School, based in nearby Castiglione del Lago on the shores of Lake Trasimeno between Umbria and Tuscany, provides a curricular concentration in Archaeology and History. This six-week program begins with student arrival and pick-up from the Rome airport and transfer to Perugia for the welcome dinner. After orientation, the group is brought to nearby Castiglione del Lago where they live for the duration of the program. This location was chosen for its wonderfully hospitable community and its jurisdiction and proximity to the archaeological site. Student time will be allocated between on-site work (in the newly discovered ruins of a Roman Villa), in-class lessons, extra-curricular activities in Castiglione and Perugia, and field trips. At the end of the program, students will be transferred to Perugia for a farewell festa and taken by private bus to the Rome airport for departure.

The Academic Program
The Field School consists of two courses, one theoretical and one practical, both held in Castiglione del Lago. The program aims to provide you with a comprehensive overview of up-to-date theories and methods of archaeological research and fieldwork as applied to the civilizations that shaped the history and culture of central Italy. The Field School runs for 6 weeks, from late May through mid-July. Program dates for Summer 2018 will be Saturday, May 26th (arrival in Italy) to Saturday, July 7th (departure).

ARFW 350: Archaeological Field Workshop
Is an archaeology practicum where you will work on the site alongside a professional archaeological staff. You will gain fundamental skills of archaeological research and apply them over the course of the project. Course credit: 3

ARCL 340: Archaeology in Central Italy: the Etruscan and Roman Heritage
Will introduce you to the region’s history and heritage, as context for our archaeological research. It also provides a theoretical background for the summer program’s learning and training. Course credit: 3

Both courses are mandatory and have no prerequisites. They include fieldtrips to various archaeological and cultural sites, including an overnight trip to Rome. The fieldtrips are designed to enhance your understanding of the territory’s history, while also providing the opportunity to study and visit neighboring archaeological sites and major museum collections.

The Archaeological Workshop
The last three years of campaigns in the territory of Castiglione del Lago have revealed significant archaeological remains, including a Roman building complex and a possible Roman road. The goal of the campaign as a whole is to assess the original pattern of human impact in the entire territory, and understand its development since antiquity.

Umbra Institute’s mission is to develop our students’ expertise in the full range of methods and processes employed in a complete archaeological project, from research design and preliminary survey of the territory, to methods of data collection in the field and digging, to the cataloging and display of archaeological remains. Investigating the archaeological heritage of this landscape, our project provides an instructive example of how different civilizations built upon one another in the same geographic area.

The Excavation Site The fieldwork will take place on an archaeological area located on the shores of Lake Chiusi, on the Umbrian-Tuscan border just a few miles from Castiglione del Lago and Lake Trasimeno. On fieldwork days, a private bus will take students, faculty, and staff to the site for a full-day’s work and research. Lunch will be on-site, and students will return home in the mid-afternoon. Alternating days will be spent in class, at the local museum, or on field trips to nearby sites of interest. This archaeological site was only recently discovered and has yet to be scientifically mapped and explored. Preliminary findings indicate the presence of a Roman villa, including thermal infrastructures, mosaics, and a possible Roman road. The Archaeological Field School is a long term project run in cooperation with local institutions. Every summer, students contribute to the uncovering of the site and the display of artifacts in the expanding archaeological museum of Castiglione del Lago. Join us this summer to explore this exciting discovery and unearth the secrets that lie beneath as we travel back to the time of ancient Rome.

Note: Participating in an archaeological campaign is exciting work, but it is also sometimes tiring and challenging. It is important that you are ready and fit for outdoor physical activity. The typical day starts early in the morning and runs until mid-afternoon.

Learn more about the Trasimeno Archaeology Field School and its discoveries! Please take a look at the official publication of the Archaeology Report for the 2015 campaign.

Life in Castiglione del Lago
Castiglione del Lago is a charming medieval town in Umbria, located on top of a small peninsula along the southwestern shores of Lake Trasimeno. It featured in a recent article by The Guardian as one of the best lakeside towns in Europe. A member of the prestigious I Borghi più Belli d’Italia Association (The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy), Castiglione is situated between renowned historical cities, such as Orvieto, Chiusi, Arezzo, Cortona, and Perugia. All Field School participants will stay in Castiglione during the summer term, only a few miles away from Perugia and easily accessible by bus or train.You will live in modernly furnished studio apartments (2-3 students each) directly on the lake shore, a short walking distance from supermarkets and all other important venues. All apartments include furnished kitchens.

In line with Umbra’s traditional focus on community engagement, you will have the opportunity to enjoy day-to-day life as a local and experience the ambiance of an Italian town. A renowned summer location, Castiglione is an international venue for relaxing vacations, swimming and sun-bathing on its beaches, or for practicing a variety of sports: cycling, sailing, wind- and kite-surfing, and canoeing. The beautiful hills surrounding the area offer opportunities for hiking, mountain-biking, and horseback riding. Bus and train services directly connect Castiglione to other cities, including Rome and Florence, making it easy to travel over weekends.

Cooperation With the Local Community
The Archaeological Field School is collaborative and aims to involve the community of Castiglione del Lago in a long-term relationship. As part of the project, you will cooperate with the local archaeological museum to enhance its visibility and impact.

Local Partnerships
The Trasimeno Archaeology Field School is run by the Umbra Institute in cooperation with the Archeological Superintendency of Umbria, with the Comune of Castiglione del Lago and the Archeological Research Company Intrageo. 

Program Fees: $5,975.00
Includes: Academic program, housing, airport transfers, Resident Director, orientation, use of facilities in Castiglione del Lago, Umbra-sponsored cultural activities, transportation to/from dig site, museum entrance fees, field trips and excursions, overnight trip to Rome, and official transcripts.

Program Fees do NOT Include
Airfare to/from Rome, meals, lab fees (€ 250), and personal expenses.

How to Apply
Deadline for application is April 20th, 2018. To receive additional information or to be contacted by an Umbra representative, please complete the form below.