THE ROMAN CITY EXCAVATION> Frequently Asked Questions



1- Do I need to have any experience?
No.No. This program is designed for people who want to learn and practice archaeology including those without previous fieldwork experience. You will work under the close guidance and supervision of professional archaeologist that will teach you what you need to know in order to participate in every aspect of the archaeological process.

2- Do I need to know any Spanish?
No. Courses are given in both English and Spanish. Many people on the island of Menorca speak English and enjoy practicing with English speakers.

3- I have never studied Archaeology, can I still participate?
Yes. Our courses are open to all. You will learn all that is needed to fully participate in the excavation and lab work.

4- Can I change sessions after signing up?
Yes, provided that there is still space in the session of you new choice. There is no extra cost for changing session.

5- How hard is the work?
The work will mostly consist of digging in the ground with different tools, from picks to small trowels. You will transport dirt by wheelbarrow or bucket. There will also be lab work and artefact washing and classification. The work is not too hard, but you should be in good health.

6- Do I need to be physically fit?
No. You should be in reasonable physical condition and in good health.

7- Is it a problem if I am a vegetarian?
No. Special diets are YOUR responsibility, but it is easy to maintain a healthy vegetarian diet on the island. We normally serve many pasta and vegetable dishes. However, we do not change the food program for vegetarians.

8- What do I need to bring?
Excavations: Bring comfortable, old clothes to excavate with, gloves to protect your hands, knee pads, mosquito repellent, sun-block, hat and sunglasses.

Island life: If you plan on renting a car (easiest way to travel the island) you will need your driver's license. There are many amazing beaches on the island, so you will want to be sure to bring your bathing suit and beach towel. Normally, the days are hot and the nights are chilly.

9- Will I have time to travel on my own?
Yes. Every seven days of excavation, there will be two days of rest. If you would like to visit other cities in Spain we recommend that you take some days to travel on your own before or after the program (travelling to and from the island is very expensive).

10- What if I hurt myself while excavating? All participants will have accidental medical insurance during course hours. However, we recommend that you have additional insurance to cover illness and incidences outside of course.

11. Will I be able to do laundry?
Yes. We provide a laundry service in the student residency with a charge of 4 Euros per bag (we provide the bag).

12. I will be arriving a day early and/or stay an extra day. Can I stay in the student residency?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide housing outside of the session dates because we have back to back session and need to clean the residency between groups. Also, everyone asks and it has to be the same answer for all, regardless of group size. We do have a list of places to stay that previous students have recommend and I am more than happy to send that to you. Just ask for it. You can arrive on the first day of your session between noon and 4pm. If you are arriving later than 4pm on the first day, please let me know. The night of the last day is included and checkout time is at 10am the next morning.

12- Will I be able to do laundry?

Yes. We provide a laundry service in the student residency with a charge of 4 Euros per bag (we provide the bag).

13. Is there internet nearby?
Yes. We offer wifi in the student residency. There is also free wireless in the library which is walking distance from the student residency and in various cafes and pubs, all about a two minute walk from the residency. For those of you not bringing your computer, there is an internet café right around the corner.

14. I am having trouble arranging my flight...can I leave a day early?
Yes. We always try and make the last two days of each session free days so that participants can have more flexibility when arranging their flights. Of course this is weather dependent, but we are usually able to follow the schedule.

15. Can I contact previous participants of your excavations and hear about their experiences?
Yes. We have opened up a profile on Facebook called "Ecomuseum Cavalleria" so that interested people can contact at random previous participants and ask about their experiences with us. This page is also to share photos of the dig and to keep us all in touch.

16. What is the difference between digging in the Necropolis and digging in the Roman City? What will I learn by spending time in both?
The Necropolis Dig focuses on excavating individual tombs and human remains. It is based on principles of bioarchaeology/physical anthropology. The lab work focuses on the study of the human skeletal remains recovered during the excavation. The Roman City Dig is geared towards archaeology in general. Participants will learn how to excavate following the Harris Matrix. The artifacts recovered from this excavation are varied, but the majority of the lab work will focus on the pottery recovered during the excavation. Participants will learn how to clean label, classify and inventory pottery recovered during the excavation.