College of DuPage Archaeological Program Offers Field Training Experience in Europe
College of DuPage is hosting an archaeological field studies trip to central Europe this year from Monday, May 27, to Friday, June 28. Enrollments for this experience are still being taken.
The Archaeological and Bioarchaeological Field School, hosted by College of DuPage and Masaryk University-Brno since 2004, offers approximately five weeks of training and hands-on experience at an excavation site in the Czech Republic. Participants learn a wide variety of archaeological field techniques, laboratory methods and bioarchaeology including cataloguing, excavation procedures, field photography, flotation sampling, mapping and remote sensing. In addition to top-notch archaeological training, students gain an invaluable experience by working alongside Czech students and being immersed in central European culture.
According to Associate Professor of Anthropology Dr. Michael Dietz, there are several unique components to the field school.
“The field school is one of only a few in existence that feature bioarchaeology and one of only a few in central Europe that are taught completely in English,” said Dietz. “In addition, our relationship with Masaryk University has developed to a deeper level of respect and trust over the years, which has allowed our students more access and greater research opportunities, including advanced dissertation projects.”
The excavation site is located at Pohansko in the southeastern corner of the Czech Republic. Dating to the 9th century A.D., this site was a major center of Great Moravia and straddles major transportation routes into Moravia and the Baltic which served as a main avenue of communication and trade from the classical world to Germanic and Slavic peoples of the north.
Dr. John Staeck, Professor of Anthropology, said that two elements set the Anthropology program at College of DuPage and studies at the Field School apart from similar programs.
“Our departmental faculty is rare amongst community colleges in that it includes four members who have earned Ph.D. degrees. This means that students learn from experienced and accomplished researchers,” Staeck said said. “In addition, we strive to maintain a 4:1 student to faculty ratio, which ensures that students receive a high-level of attention and interaction with their instructors.”
In addition to scheduled field trips to locations in Austria, the Slovak Republic and throughout the Czech Republic, students will also have ample opportunity for travel and exploration on their own.
For more information on the Field School, visit www.cod.edu/programs/anthropology/field_school, or contact Dr. Michael Dietz at (630) 942-2553 or dietzm@cod.edu. To register for this trip, call the Field Studies/Study Abroad office at (630) 942-2356.
For more information on the Anthropology Program at College of DuPage, visit www.cod.edu/programs/anthropology.