2021 field school Sultanat of Oman
RJ3 project
TIME OF MAGAN FIELD SCHOOL
THE RAS AL JINZ PROJECT
Archaeological Excavations at
Ras Al Jinz RJ-3
Sultanate of Oman – 15 January
– 19 March 2021
RAS AL JINZ
The
Ras Al Jinz Project, led by Valentina Azzarà and Alexandre De Rorre, has been
exploring since 2017 the settlement site of RJ-3, in the natural reserve of
Ras Al Jinz, bordering the Indian Ocean on the easternmost cape of the
Arabian Peninsula. The site was occupied from the Late Neolithic to the end of
the Early Bronze Age (EBA, 4th-3rd mill. BCE), as revealed by a long sequence
of occupations, quite exceptional for a coastal site in the region.
During
the EBA, RJ-3 most likely formed a single settlement – extended on 3 or 4 ha –
with the well-known site of RJ-2, located on the other side of the bay.
Explored for more than 25 years, RJ-2 is a key-site of Arabian archaeology and
one of the foremost EBA settlements in the region. It shows solid evidence for
interactions with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, and has yielded the richest
assemblage of seals in Oman, as well as a large amount of bitumen slabs from
boat caulking.
Closer
to the seashore, RJ-3 was a specialised area related to different sorts of
craft activities, including in particular the production of shell and stone
ornaments. These activities were associated with different types of evidence –
short-lasting huts and permanent stone structures.
THE FIELD
SCHOOL
The Time of Magan Field School is an excellent opportunity for BA
and MA students to gain experience in the field of Arabian Archaeology, and
more broadly in settlement archaeology (excavation and documentation)
and artefacts/ecofacts processing and recording.
We provide a range of
expert-led research focused training designed to introduce students to
practical archaeological field methods, and to build and expand on knowledge
and experience gained during your university studies.
OUR HQ
Students and most staff members will be staying in a dedicated house in
a quiet neighbourhood in Ras al Hadd in the Sharquiyyah region. The
accommodations are shared bedrooms, with three to five persons per room, a
basic shower and squat toilet in each room. Sheets and pillows will be
provided, but participants should bring towels and sleeping bags.
THE FIELD WORK
Once
we start field work, the day is fairly full. We have breakfast at 6:00 am and
we leave the house for the field at 6:45 am – arriving there by 7:00 am.
We
have a break at around 10:00 am with a quick snack. Work in the field ends each
day at 1:30 pm.
After
the lunch-break, the afternoons are reserved for lab activities, which can be
followed by core and thematic lectures. During
this time, we will also have the opportunity to discuss problems, successes, results,
and interpretations. By contributing information and suggestions, you will
actively partake in the debate. Around 8:00 pm we eat dinner as a group at the
house.
Weekend
is from Thursday afternoon to Friday night and sometime could be extended for
trip purposes. It is advised to arrive in Oman on Thursday to start the field
work at the beginning of the working week (Saturday).
FEE OVERVIEW
The field
school fees cover transportation from/to the house to/from Ras al Jinz,
in-field, field equipment, accommodation, all meals except Friday, instructor
fees, visit to the Ras al-Jinz Turtle Reserve Museum, and field trips to
ancestral Sharquiyyah region.
Weekends
are yours to explore the cultural and natural attractions in the area (the fees
cover one week-end trip every 2 weeks of traineeship: visit to the
Wahiba Sands desert or visit to the Wadi Shab canyon).
Airfare and your personal gear are your responsibility.
The training includes:
In-field methods
Post-excavation
procedures
In the field
·
Digging different types of features with the adapted
trowelling and excavation techniques.
·
Basic principles of stratigraphy and
Harris Matrix.
·
Recording and documenting the
data during the excavation.
·
Practice on the recognition of
archaeological materials
·
Basic procedures for sample collection.
·
Use of Electronic Total Station
Post-excavation laboratory activities
·
Sorting out and classification of
archaeological objects: ceramics, faunal remains, metals, lithics,
shells and stone ornaments.
·
Digital recording of finds
(data-base and photography)
·
Principles of:
o
Zooarchaelogy
o
Malacology
o
Ceramology
o Analysis
of lithic artefacts
·
Principles of:
o
GIS
o
Photogrammetry
o
Computer Aided Drawing
At the end of the Field Program, students will receive a certificate of
participation stating the hours and activities of the training. Participants
that perform remarkably well may receive a letter of recommendation from our
organisation upon request.
No prior
experience is required to participate in this field school.
APPLICATION AND
FEES
Minimum 7 / Maximum 20 participants per 2-weeks
session
Period: 15 January – 19 March 2021 (arrival on
Thursdays, beginning of work in the field on Saturdays)
2 weeks minimum of participation are required. It is
advised to participate during 4 weeks.
All fees should be paid 1 month before arrival.
·
Total fee for 2-weeks session: 1300 US dollars
·
Total fee for 4-weeks session 2500 US dollars
·
Total fee for 8-weeks session 4500 US dollars
·
Students enrolled in Netherlands Universities: 4-weeks
session 700 euros
Complete refund until two weeks before the departure
date. 30% fee will be kept in case of cancellation within two weeks from the
departure date.
Fees fully refunded in case of cancellation due to
COVID-19
Airfare,
visa and personal insurance not included in the fees
Ø Health and safety precautions/regulations:
Vaccinations for DTP, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B must be up to date. A health
insurance and travel insurance including COVID-19 treatment is mandatory.
Ø Visa requirements: a visa (for 30 days) must
be bought for 20 OR (c. $52 / 50€) through online application (more information
upon request). The visa can be extended for 30 additional days (20 OR).
Application method: Send CV and letter of motivation to fieldschooloman@gmail.com
Application deadline
date: Applications will be
considered upon submission and can be sent until the end of December 2020.
But please
note!
Participating
in an archaeological campaign is an exciting work, but it is also sometimes
tiring and challenging. It is important that you are ready and fit for outdoor
physical activity. The typical day starts early in the morning and runs until
late-afternoon.
Our
parteners
·
Ministry of Heritage and Culture of the Sultanate of
Oman
·
Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology
(Netherlands)
·
UMR
7041 – ArScAn VEPMO – Maison René Ginouvès, Nanterre (France)
· Diag AML (France)
Project leaders:
Ø Valentina
Azzarà (Leiden University, Faculty of Archaeology)
Ø
Alexandre
De Rorre (independent researcher)
https://archaeofieldschool.com/
https://www.instagram.com/time_of_magan/
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