2024 Italy: Roca Vecchia
Open
Sep 1-28, 2024
Archaeology
Dr. Teodoro Scarano, Dr. Nicoletta Perrone & Dr. Veronica Congedi
$4,860
June 30, 2024
July 11, 2024 at 9:00am Pacific Time
8 Semester Credits
OVERVIEW
The Bronze Age fortified settlement of Roca Vecchia was a strategic key-site for the crossing routes between the Aegean and the Central Mediterranean. Maybe more important, the site includes the Grotta Poesia cave, an important cult center since prehistory. Roca Vecchia was settled from the mid-17th to the late 11th century BCE and was protected by a massive wall, repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over time. Finds from the Middle Bronze Age levels (17th-14th century BCE) clearly attest to the early involvement of Roca within the Aegean network. Finds include an unusual variety of products of both Minoan, Italo-Minoan and local Italian pottery. These artifacts indicate active and intensive trading along the southern Adriatic routes already at these early dates. Despite the unquestionable local identity of the site, Late Bronze Age Roca yielded more Aegean-type ceramics than any other settlement in Italy (including a large variety of both imports and their imitations). Roca appears to have been characterized by cultural hybridization of the local Italian population with Minoan and Mycenaean elements.
Recent investigations carried out in Roca suggest that extensive ritual practices were linked to collective ceremonial activities, incorporating rituals and symbols of both local and Aegean origin. Final Bronze Age evidence include exotica – such as ivory and amber, metalworking activities in bronze and gold, including gold sun discs and ornaments – suggesting the wealth and centrality of Roca for the central Mediterranean area.
During the forthcoming seasons, students will participate in investigating both Bronze Age fortifications and settlement area as well as funerary evidence dating to the second and first millennium BCE.
Excavating at the promontory off Roca Vecchia
Drawing a plan of a feature
Students excavating at the promontory
Museum visit during field school
Observing a feature at the promontory
Artist illustration of Bronze Age Roca Vecchia
Imported ceramic vessels recovered at Roca Vecchia
Ariel view of Roca Vecchia
instructors
All field school directors are experts in their field and passionate about their work. To discuss the suitability of this program for your career goals – whether within or outside academia – you are invited to contact the directors directly. For a broader discussion which CFS program to choose, you are welcome to contact our staff directly – you can do that through our “Contact Us” page.
Prof. Teodoro Scarano
University of Salento
Dr. Veronica Congedi
University of Salento
Dr. Nicoletta Perrone
University of Salento
Testimonials
From 2023 Student Evaluations
From 2023 Student Evaluations
From 2023 Student Evaluations
student fees (tuition)
what is covered
-
DEPOSIT IS PART OF TOTAL TUITION COST
-
Costs of Instruction
-
Cost of Room & Board
-
Cost of Academic Credit Units
-
Health and Evacuation Insurance
read before you pay
- Application: You must apply online for this program – application is free
- Deposit: A $300 nonrefundable deposit (part of the total tuition cost) is required to secure a space in the program
- Credit Card Fee: Payments with credits cards incur 2.5% processing fee
- Late Fee: A $100 Late Fee will be added to the program costs if tuition is not paid in full by payment deadline
- Cancelation Policy: Carefully read our Cancelation Policy before committing to attend our programs
- Trip cancellation Insurance: Trip cancellation insurance is not provided by CFS. Such policies have changed due to Covid 19. If you wish to purchase an insurance policy that covers pandemic contingencies, explore Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) plans. Insuremytrip or Travel Guard are possible websites where you may explore different insurance policies
Accommodations
Students will be accommodated at Hotel Belvedere in Torre dell’Orso. Torre dell’Orso is a charming town in the territory of Melendugno (Lecce), located on the Adriatic coast of Salento, not far from the archaeological site of Roca Vecchia.
The rooms are comfortable and bright and equipped with single and double beds, wardrobes, chairs, wi-fi, TV and air conditioning. On the terrace of the structure there is a swimming pool overlooking the wonderful bay of Torre dell’Orso.
diet
Breakfast and dinner are provided by the hotel and students will travel with project vehicles. The dinner is based on Italian cuisine and includes a daily choice of a first and a second between two alternatives that change daily plus fruit or dessert, water included, and other drinks excluded. Students with special diets or food allergies must communicate directly with program staff to explore the possibility of accommodating their diet in this location.
travel information
We suggest you hold purchasing airline tickets until six (6) weeks before the program begins. Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions & a range of other factors may require the cancelation this field school. CFS typically makes a final Go/No Go decision about six weeks before the field school begins. To protect students from potential financial loss, we urge students to purchase airline tickets only six weeks prior to program beginning.
Students will be met at 5:00pm at the Lecce Central Train Station (Stazione di Lecce) on the first day of the program (Sun). Our meeting point is at the Grandcaffé Bar (Piazzale Oronzo Massari, 73100 Lecce LE) just outside the main entrance to the station.
visa information
Citizens of the US, Canada and EU countries do not require visas to enter Italy. You will need your passport to be valid for at least 90 days and will enter on a tourist visa. Citizens of other countries are asked to check the embassy website page at their home country for specific visa requirements
No vaccinations are required for entry to Italy but anyone working in archaeology in the country needs to have an up-to-date tetanus shot.
Meeting Point
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2024 | 5:00pm | Lecce Central Train Station (Stazione di Lecce), at the Grandcaffé Bar (Piazzale Oronzo Massari, 73100 Lecce LE) |
Safety
Our primary concern is with education. Traveling and conducting field work involves risk. Students interested in participating in our programs must weigh whether the potential risk is worth the value of education provided. While risk is inherent in everything we do, we do not take risk lightly. We engage in intensive review of each field school location prior to approval. Once a program is accepted, we review and monitor each program annually to make sure it complies with all our standards and policies, including student safety.
Students attending our international programs are covered by a comprehensive Health Insurance policy that includes physical illness or injury, mental or chronic conditions. There are no deductible and 100% of costs are covered up to $250,000. In addition, we provide Political & Natural Disaster Evacuation policy, which allow us to remove students from program location if conditions change.
Students attending our domestic programs (within the US) must have their own health insurance and provide proof upon enrollment. Program directors are familiar with local authorities and if in need of evacuation, local emergency services and/or law enforcement will be notified and activated.
We have an explicit and robust harassments & discriminations policies. If students feel they cannot discuss personal safety issues with program staff, they are welcome to call the CFS emergency hotline and talk directly with CFS staff members.
Call (+1 562 584-0761) or email (info@fieldsciences.org) if you have questions about the safety of any program.