As long-term readers of this site will know I had the great pleasure of attending a Leonardo Da Vinci European Union funded archaeology placement in Magdeburg, Germany, via Grampus Heritage, in 2011 for 6 glorious weeks. If you’re interested in reading what I got up to over there please read my review here. I now have the pleasure of highlighting a placement, courtesy of Joanne Stamper of Grampus Heritage, under the Erasmus+ banner (a successor of the Leonardo Da Vinci programme) that still has a small number of places for spring 2018.
This is the chance to join a fantastic placement in Romania, aimed at recruiting undergraduates and postgraduates in the United Kingdom and introducing them to a fascinating cultural exchange and introduction to Romanian Neolithic archaeology. The exciting placement involves archaeological excavation of a Central European Neolithic site, human osteological analysis, and finds processing of the excavated material. Read on to find out more and how to apply if you are eligible . . .
Student Erasmus + Grant Funded Placements Available for Alba Iulia, Romania
Date: 1st March – 29th April 2018.
Funding: The grant will cover accommodation, so participants would need to get their own flights and budget for food (£50-70 per week depending on meals out) as well as the usual money for presents, toiletries, etc. Participants also need to make sure they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Placement Information: The placement is hosted by Satul Verde with Universitatea „1 Decembrie 1918” in Alba Iulia. The group will be assisting the team in analysing the human remains and pottery from the Neolithic excavation that has been run by the university for the past several years.
A snapshot of the work undertaken during the Romanian archaeology placement from previous years. Image courtesy of Joanne Stamper, Grampus Heritage.
The most intensive habitation period appears to have been around 4600-4500calBC when the Foeni group used the site, a group attributed to the funerary complex that has been the focus of the most recent excavations. So far, the discovery of around 120 dis-articulated individuals mainly represented by skull caps has been very interesting as there are traces of burning on the caps, with no facial bones noted as being present. This appears to indicate one of the unusual mortuary practices of the Lumea Noua community. The demographic details of the site indicate that both adults and non-adults are represented, with male and female individuals present in the adult population.
It has been suggested that the human remains were not interred during an epidemic; moreover, collective death as a result of violence is unlikely since there at no traces of interpersonal violence, such as wounds inflicted by arrows or lithic weapons. In addition, no arrow tips or axes have been found in connection with the human bone material. One possible explanation of this funerary practice is that Alba Iulia was a ceremonial centre where Neolithic communities practiced organised burial rituals, including special treatment of human cranial remains. Pottery has been found associated with the bone remains, of very good quality, made with clay with no impurities. A large quantity of well burnished black topped fired vessels have been found at the site. Pottery that has had painted decoration applied before being fired without any slip are also typical of this site.
A range of the tasks undertaken during the Romanian placement, including human skeletal excavation and analysis in the laboratory. Image courtesy of Joanne Stamper, Grampus Heritage.
The group will also be assisting in a rescue excavation, site details of which will be discussed with the group when the dates are confirmed during the placement.
Application:
Potential student applicants are advised to send in their application form as soon as possible via the Grampus Heritage website, where the form can be downloaded. Please make note of the eligibility and conditions attached to each of the placements, including the above Romanian placement. To contact Grampus Heritage regarding the above placement please email enquiries AT grampusheritage.co.uk or telephone on 01697 321 516.
Further Information
- Read more about Grampus Heritage and the European Union funded Erasmus+ placements here.
- Read my own reflection on the 6 week German archaeology placement in Magdeburg here, courtesy of Grampus Heritage and the European Union in 2011.
- Read a guest post by Joanne Wilkinson, from 2012, on the joys of attending and taking part in a cultural heritage scheme as promoted by the Leonardo Da Vinci and Erasmus+ schemes here.
- Try your luck guessing which anatomical landmarks I’ve highlighted on a bone from my Magdeburg placement in my human osteology quiz here.
These Bones Of Mine 