Menorca, Spain

Digging remains and Biological Anthropology in Sanisera (Menorca – Spain)

This course is divided in two parts. In this way, students can learn and experiment in both archaeological digs, developed in the land site: Digging in the Roman city and Biological Anthropology in the tombs of Sanisera.Part 1. Digging in Sanisera

The research is focused on the archaeological excavation of Sanisera and it studies what happened in this Roman port connected to the maritime traffic that sailed the Mediterranean during those times. As a result, we know that this is a very interesting archaeological site, with abundant findings of multiple artifacts that will help us to reconstruct its past.

The excavation at the Roman city of Sanisera provides all the archaeological documentation necessary for the student to acquire enough training and experience in all aspects involving an excavation of the Roman civilization from the II century B.C. to the VI A.D.
Part 2. Digging roman graves in the Necropolis of Sanisera

Death in Rome has been studied in Sanisera since we started digging the first necropolis in 2008. So far we have excavated 90 tombs belonging to a Roman cemetery which could have been related to a basilica in the Roman city if Sanisera, which dates from the 4th and 6th centuries AD. The Osteology corpus in this necropolis includes more than 232 individuals.

The fieldwork focuses on funerary structures, specifically inhumation graves. Participants will learn and apply excavation techniques used in biological anthropology when excavating tombs. Students will also participate in lectures on skeletal anatomy and pathologies, classes, exercises and excursions related to the course material. In the laboratory participants will be instructed by an anthropologist and other archaeologists in the classification, study, and conservation of human remains and other related materials found.

Course leader

Fernando Contreras

Target group

If you have not previously participated as a volunteer in a field school and would like to experiment and gain knowledge with different excavation techniques and methodology during 18 days in two distinctly different sites, this course would be a good option for you.

Course aim

It is difficult to find a course that allows you to explore both biological anthropology and archaeology where you can gain experience and knowledge in both excavating tombs with human remains and techniques used in excavating Roman structures.

You will experiment in both archaeology and biological anthropology, two areas with many similarities, but also many differences when excavating and treating recovered archaeological material in the laboratory.

At the end of this program you will have experience in both areas and will be able to better decide what path is best for you; biological anthropology or archaeology.

Fee info

USD 1400: Course fee includes

• Course tuition
• Accommodation in the Student Residency in Ciutadella. Two to six per room.
• Walking distance to the historic center, port and beaches
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Accident insurance at the site.
• Daily transportation to/from the archaeological fieldwork.
• In case of needing to process Schengen Visa the mandatory letter of invitation will be written so you can travel and participate in our courses.
• Certificate of participation

Airfare not included from the student home to/from Menorca (Spain).