THE FIELD SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

Excavation, 2025 (Martes)

Excavation Techniques
In the field, students will be instructed on how to practice proper excavation techniques using tools such as a pickaxe, hand-pick, and trowel. The methodology used is open-area excavation and single context recording. Students will also learn how to identify various materials, artifacts, features, and layers through first-hand experience. Students are expected to participate in all such aspects of excavation.  ​

Visiting Bronze Age rock art discovered through survey, 2023 (Castelo)

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Survey
Students may have the opportunity to continue surveying the surrounding landscape during the 2026 season. In previous seasons, survey has revealed several examples of Late Bronze Age rock-art and additional, unexcavated structures at Castelo. Survey has also revealed evidence of metallurgy at Martes.

Afternoon trip to the Clay Museum, 2023.

Field Trips
Each Saturday (sometimes Sunday) we go on a field trip as a team to museums, archaeological sites, and other places of interest in both Spain and Portugal. In the past we have visited Évora, Badajoz, Mérida, Beja, Serpa, and local river-beaches. ​
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During some afternoons, students will have the opportunity to visit local sites and museums located in and around the town of Redondo. Redondo is home to the Castelo de Redondo (Castle of Redondo), Museu Regional do Vinho (Regional Wine Museum), and Museu de Barro (Clay Museum). 

Handling & Processing Materials
Following our day in the field, artifacts are brought back to our work and research space in Redondo. After lunch, students will spend time washing, sorting, and cataloging artifacts. Students should expect to be spending 2 to 3 hours in lab each work day, especially during Castelo. Students that are particularly interested in lab work will have the opportunity to spend additional time working with these materials in the afternoons.

Carinated burnished rim, 2023 (Castelo)

​Archaeological Illustration & Recording
Equally important to excavation is the recording of data while in the field. Students will be taught how to map and draw stratigraphic contexts and take elevations with a dumpy level. Students will also learn how to fill out context sheets.

Bronze Age hut, 2019.

Lectures
At the start of the season, students will be given a lecture on excavation methodology. Time-permitting, students will benefit from lectures pertaining to the late prehistory of Iberia, laboratory work, applying to graduate school, and working in CRM / development-led archaeology. These lectures aim to supplement the practical experience gained on site and in lab, while also supporting students as they think about the next steps in their archaeological careers.

Students recording features, 2023 (Castelo)

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LIFE ON THE PROJECT

Daily Schedule
The typical weekday schedule (Monday to Friday) will consist of the following. Please note that these times are approximates and are subject to change. 

06:30 → Departure: students picked up from designated meeting spot near dig houses and driven to site
07:00-12:45 → Fieldwork
10:30 → On-site snack break
12:45 → Pack up and prepare to leave site - students driven back to town for lunch
13:30-15:00 → Lunch at restaurant (provided)
15:00-18:30 → Lab work: pottery washing & cataloging​
18:30-20:00 → Free time
20:00-21:00 → Dinner at home (provided)
21:00-whenever one is inclined to sleep → Free time

Redondo, 2018.

Accommodation
​Students will be housed in groups across a few houses in the town of Redondo. Most rooms will be shared by two or more students, and sometimes on bunk beds. Sleeping arrangements are gender-separated. Spaces are communal - there is a shared kitchen, bathrooms, washing machine, and dining room in each house. Students are responsible for cleaning these spaces and doing the assigned chores each weekend. Students will do their own laundry. Please note that there is no wifi or air conditioning in the houses, though fans will be available. Bedding will be provided.

Example of accomodation, 2017.

The Town of Redondo
The town of Redondo is quite small but very friendly. During their free time, students are encouraged to explore and familiarize themselves with the town. Free wifi is available in various public spaces around town (including the pool) - make sure you bring your own cellphone or laptop. If you’d like to get a phone plan (cellular data plans are quite affordable in Portugal) you may do this at the airport in Lisbon, though some shops sell SIM cards in Redondo. Students will also have access to the outdoor community pool - so make sure to bring your swimsuits! 

Redondo Pool (Photo Credit: CM Redondo)

Redondo tower, 2022.

Transportation
Students are expected to provide their own transportation to and from Portugal (Lisbon airport) as airfare is not​ included in the tuition. Once in Portugal, transportation will be provided by the field school. Upon arrival at the Lisbon airport for each session, you will be greeted by either Rui, Bianca, or Pouca and brought as a group to Redondo. At the end of each session, students will be brought back to the Lisbon airport. Please inform us of your travel plans as far in advance as possible. 

Meals
On weekdays, the field school provides students with three meals per day. Breakfast is provided at the dig house, and students are expected to prepare it themselves. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Dinner is provided by a local restaurant but eaten at home. Students should expect to eat a great deal of local Alentejan cuisine and are expected to be open-minded when it comes to trying new foods!

​The project will do its best to accommodate dietary needs, but students must inform us of any dietary requirements, and/or allergies in their forms. Due to the nature of Alentejan cuisine, we can accommodate vegetarian diets (which will involve vegetarian students cooking for themselves 3 days a week, particularly for dinner, with ingredients provided), but any other dietary requirements must be discussed with one of the directors. Please note that personal preference is not considered a dietary requirement. 

Dinner, 2019.

Food, 2018-2019.

Health & Safety
Insurance (Health & Travel)

• All participants on the excavation are required to provide their own health and/or travel insurance. Please make sure it will cover medical care in Portugal. 

Pre-existing Medical Conditions & Medication

• Students should also make sure to inform us of any medical conditions prior to payment.
• Students are responsible for bringing the correct quantity of any necessary medications. There is a pharmacy and a health centre located in Redondo, in addition to a hospital in the nearby town of Évora (35 mins away), in the event of an emergency. 

Field Conditions & Physical Labour

• Archaeological fieldwork involves doing a great deal of manual labour. It can be difficult, physically challenging, and hot as summers in the Alentejo are extremely warm and dry. Students are expected to spend many hours outside in this heat, partaking in fieldwork. Some areas of the site will have tarps to provide shade while working.
• Students are expected to help load and unload tools daily. Students will be trained on how to safely work with primarily small tools (trowel, hand-pick, brush) and may have the opportunity to work with bigger tools if they are comfortable.
• We take the health and safety of all field school students very seriously. As we care very much about maintaining a safe environment, all students are expected to bring at least two litres of water and a snack to site everyday, apply sunscreen, wear sturdy shoes (hiking/work boots are required, steel-toe is optional), and talk openly with directors about any concerns. If you are not feeling well on site, tell someone - we want every student to be safe.