Unearthing the Roman Dead

Digging up the dead never looked so good. This summer, you can join Spanish archaeologists on the Mediterranean island of Menorca as they venture into Roman tombs from the necropolis of Sanisera. The city of Sanisera (one of the three Roman cities on Menorca) was first established by the Romans in 123 B.C. as a military camp to control pirating in the Western Mediterranean. Over the next six centuries, however, this small outpost located around the northern port of Sanitja expanded into a vibrant center of commercial exchange. Throughout its existence, Sanisera allowed the Romans to control the intense maritime traffic between the Italian and Iberian peninsulas.

Excavations conducted by the Ecomuseum of the Cape of Cavalleria since 1994 have focused on the early Roman military camp at the site, revealing impressive quantities of Roman artifacts and pottery. This season, archaeologists will turn their attention to excavating a number of Roman tombs located on the outskirts of the city. Volunteers will have a unique opportunity to work with archaeologists and physical anthropologists in the field and in the lab as they discern vital information from the human remains recovered from the necropolis. There will be additional excavation opportunities within the walls of the Roman city as well.

Aside from spending the summer excavating on a beautiful Mediterranean island, volunteers will enjoy staying in the Ecomuseum’s air-conditioned student residence in nearby Ciutadella. Ciutadella is an enchanting little town with lively cafes and outdoor terraces nestled among narrow cobble stone streets.