Location: Paspardo, Italy

Season: 

July 20, 2017 to August 10, 2017

Session dates: 

July 20-27; July 27-August 3; August 3-10

Application Deadline: 

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Deadline Type: 

Contact for details

Website: 

http://www.rupestre.net

Affiliation:

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), Brescia, and Footsteps of Man Archaeological Cooperative Society (IFRAO member), ITALY

Project Director:

Prof. Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI

Project Description

Valcamonica rock art (the first World Heritage List site in UNESCO in Italy), is an alpine valley between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia in Northern Italy. In Valcamonica  rock art constitutes an archaeological, artistic, ethnographic and historical patrimony of immense value, not only for its antiquity but, for the thematic and iconographic wealth. As an active rock art centre, member of IFRAO (International Federation of Rock Art Organizations), the Footsteps of Man and the Catholic University of Brescia, organise  annual archaeology fieldwork at Paspardo, one of the major concentrations of engravings in the area, giving those interested (archaeologists and scholars, students and enthusiasts) the opportunity to help the research and learn how to study rock art at Valcamonica.

Project participants will: survey, excavate, clean, photograph, draw and catalogue the rocks engraved in three main sites at Paspardo, Valcamonica: Vite-Deria, La Bosca, Castello. The project consists of different phases, some are executed at the sites ( survey to find new engraved rocks; analysis of the level of damage to the rock surfaces and conservation problems; contact tracing to record the engravings using permanent pens on plastic sheets and photography), and some in the laboratory (reduction of drawing to scale; cataloguing of engravings). Training will be given.

During each week-long fieldwork session, participants will also have evening lectures on rock art subjects delivered by scholars of international fame, watch films, and have the opportunity to visit other rock art sites (such as the National Park of Naquane, at Capo di Ponte, the park of Foppe di Nadro, at Ceto, and the Park of Bedolina-Seradina at Capo di Ponte), the Roman National Museum and some medieval churches with beautiful frescoes and sculptures.

In Paspardo accommodation is provided in a communal house with rooms, dormitories, showers and kitchen. Volunteers should bring: personal towels, work clothes and gloves, gym shoes, sleeping bag, sun cream, sun hat and sun glasses. Full information including travel to Paspardo and a bibliography will be given to participants.

Period(s) of Occupation: Neolithic to Medieval Time

Notes: 

We are working on rock engraved with images made by prehistoric and protohistoric people mainly during the Neolithic (six thousand years ago), Bronze Age and Iron Age (from four thousands to two thousand years ago). You will learn how to trace the rock art and help us in discovering new rocks engraved

Project size: 

25-49 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: One session (one week)

Minimum age: 16

Experience required: 

Keen eyes and open mind. You will acquire experience during participation.

Room and Board Arrangements

In Paspardo accommodation is provided in a communal house with rooms, dormitories, showers and kitchen. Volunteers should bring: personal towels, work clothes and gloves, gym shoes, sleeping bag, sun cream, sun hat and sun glasses. Weekly fee covers board and lodging, tuition, reading and work equipment, but not fares. A deposit is payable – details from organizers.

Cost: 

€500 per week covering: food, lodging, working material, tuitions, lectures, general insurance. internal transports.

Academic Credit

Number of credits offered: none