For a long time, excavations of Roman remains were focused on cities like Rome and Pompeii. However, the Marzuolo project examined a rural settlement from Roman times and its hidden culture. It was a multi-faceted excavation site, which included a former production centre with blacksmith and pottery workshops, as well as stores.
Marzuolo Archaeological Project
Learning the theory is very different from actual fieldwork. The best part is personally excavating your own finds
Emma van Steen, Thérèse Kuis en Nadine Klöpping
Student
During the multi-year Marzuolo Archaeological Project in Italy, an international team dug as far as two meters into the ground to search for hidden remains of Roman rural settlements. This summer, Emma van Steen, Thérèse Kuis and Nadine Klöpping got the chance to participate in this special project as part of their Master’s in Classics and Ancient Civilizations. For four weeks, they immersed themselves in Italian archaeology and are here to share their unique experiences.
A day at the excavation site
The field asks a lot of prospective archaeologists: the students spent long days in the mud. Nadine: “We’d get up around 4.45am and go to the site together, to arrive around 6am. We worked until around noon, after which we went back to our accommodations. In the afternoon, we cleaned bones and shards. We all had dinner together at 7.30pm and went to bed straight after, because we had to get up early again the next day.”
While the students had to work hard, there was time to have fun together. Emma: “We were in an accommodation with eight people. Because you’re together all day, you quickly become close. That was really nice, because it was an international team of researchers and students.”
Interesting finds
You don’t need to dig deep to find something, the students say. “You remove the grass and some dirt, and you’ve already found Roman remains!” Thérèse says. One of the nicest discoveries she made was a bronze coin. “During the last half-hour, I hit the wall with my pickaxe and a coin fell out. That was a really special moment. Before that, we hadn’t really found anything yet. Really cool.”
Getting more out of your study programme
The project changed the way they view their programme. Nadine: “It was a kind of test for me: if I like it, I can continue in the field, if I don’t like it, I won’t. It’s not the easiest field to get a job in, but it was a wonderful experience for me.” Emma: “After participating in the project, I started looking forward to my Master’s courses a lot more. It really convinced me to start working in archaeology.” Thérèse emphasises the importance of practical experience: “Our Bachelor’s GLTC was mostly theory-based. Participating in fieldwork really allows you to get more out of your study programme. Learning the theory is very different from actual fieldwork.” Nadine adds: “The best part is personally excavating your own finds.”
The students recommend participating in these kinds of projects to other students. Thérèse remembers the moments with the international team: “Dancing, singing, visiting Siena, those moments will stay with me forever.”