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Archaeological Excavation of an Etruscan city in central Italy

To see the poster, click Caere 2025!

Cerveteri is a town on the West coast of Italy, 48 km North of Rome, which lies on the site of the Etruscan city of Cisra, called Caere by the Romans. Caere was one of the metropoleis of the ancient Mediterranean, a rich and powerful city that was an ally of Carthage and developed good relationships with its southern neighbors the Romans. The site is famous for its necropolis of rock-cut tombs imitating houses complete with carved furniture and decorations, recently listed among the . Many of the most famous Etruscan artworks, such as the Sarcophagus of the Spouses, were found in the tombs of Caere. While the cemetery had early attracted scholarly attention, the exploration of the city began much later. Though some sanctuaries are known, the general plan of the city is still largely unknown. 

The team of the �ʹ�����’s University is investigating a subterranean building in the centre of the city, the so-called “Hypogeum of Clepsina” featuring wall paintings, inscriptions, and scenic architecture. The excavation will also explore the urban area near the hypogeum, where a regular urbanization pattern is coming to light, and explore a network of tunnels and wells dug beneath the ancient city.

Field activities will include classes on Etruscan and Roman archaeology, field methods of archaeology, and other topics of interest. Weekend day trips to Rome and to Etruscan and Roman sites and museums of the region will also be organized.

On Sundays, students have the opportunity to travel at their leisure. Cerveteri itself is only 48 km outside of Rome, making the larger city easily accessible by train. There is a train station within walking distance. Although Rome is one of the primary destinations for Sunday Travels, students have travelled to Florence, Pisa, Tarquinia, and Vatican City.

CLST 409 / CLAS 809 / 6.0 units
Archaeology Fieldwork Practicum II
(Italy)

The project offers an intensive introduction to archaeological methods and interpretation, including laboratory practice and field activities (excavation, survey, mapping) in ancient sites of Etruria. 

Evaluation: Students will be advised on field excavation techniques, which they will apply at the site under the instructor's supervision. Students are expected to keep careful excavation notebooks according to the procedures and the forms specified by the project (30% of the final grade). The supervisor will also appraise the student's progress and achievement (30%). Participants in the course will also be asked to present a final report containing a general evaluation and analysis of the relationship of their excavation area/s to the rest of the excavation field and site as a whole (40%).

Pre-requisites: Permission of Department required in advance; Classics concentrators will be given preference; second-year standing or above; students must have taken one of CLST 303, 304, 305, 306.

Permission may be given to students who have not taken any of the above courses yet, but are Classics concentrators and/or are especially interested in archaeology for their future graduate studies.

Enrolment: 30

Application Deadlines: Students are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible since the number of places is limited. Students cannot self-enroll for this course. Non-�ʹ�����'s students may ask for a credit transfer and must apply for a transfer by April 15th. For any questions regarding the credit transfer process, please contact Dr. Fabio Colivicchi.

Contact Person: Dr. Fabio Colivicchi, Watson 502