Location: Es Mercadal, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Season Dates: April 13, 2013 - November 22, 2013
Session Dates: 1) April 20 - May 9; 2) May 12-31; 3) June 3-22; 4) June 25 - July 14; 5) July 17 - August 5; 6) August 8-27; 7) August 30 - September 18; 8) September 20 - October 9; 9) October 12-31; and 10) November 3 - November 22
Application Deadline: October 30, 2013

Website: http://www.ecomuseodecavalleria.com

Flyer:

2013_maritime_archeology_and_gis_software.pdf

Program Type
Field school

Affiliation: Ecomuseum of the Cape of Cavalleria and the Sa Nitja Association

Project Director: Fernando Contreras

Project Description

 
For 2013, the Cavalleria Ecomuseum Field Program offers this course, which is divided in three parts: Maritime Archaeology Fieldwork and Mapping tools focused on GIS.
The first deals with underwater archaeological survey in order to explore the Ancient Roman Port of Sanitja and the coast of the Cape of Cavalleria. The aim is to identify structures of the Roman city of Sanisera and underwater shipwrecks, as well as anchors and amphorae related to those shipwrecks and its cargoes. The port of Sanitja was not only occupied by Romans.  There are also ruins of a Muslim mosque and an English defence tower which lead us to believe that we will find other vessels from these time periods. In the past few years, several anchors and three shipwrecks from the XVI-XIX centuries have been found. Time dedicated to this part of the program: 50%.
The second part of the course will focus on Mediterranean shipbuilding techniques, both in theoretical and practical levels. Students will put into practice their conservation skills with a ship that was built around 1850. Time dedicated to this part of the program: 15%.
In the third part students will practice their computer drawing skills, so that they can create an archaeological GIS platform from the applied recording system of the Ancient Port of Sanisera. In this way, students will also learn how to use the ARGIS software. Time dedicated to this part of the program: 35%.
The underwater archaeological course will be directed by Fernando Contreras, director of the Ecomuseum of the Cape of Cavalleria, in collaboration with other underwater archaeologists, divers and specialists in maritime archaeology, GIS, topography and 3D modeling based on photography.   
The course is designed to provide practical experience in underwater fieldwork, from site discovery to lab analysis.
In the part of the course focused on the underwater survey of the port, students will gain experience in various activities such as surveying methods, site reconnaissance, recording, drawing, mapping, position fixing, photography, and laboratory processing.
The course runs six hours per day.  The day will be divided between diving in the port of Sanitja, lab work, exercises, lectures, videos and excursions. The course is taught in English and Spanish. 

Period(s) of Occupation: Roman to modern

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 20 days

Minimum Age: 18 (contact with questions about age)

Experience Required: no

Room and Board Arrangements

Participants will stay in the Ecomuseum's student residency in Ciutadella within walking distance of the historic center, port, and beaches. The residency has heating and air-conditioning, laundry service, free wifi and an outdoor terrace with views of the ocean and historic center. Ciutadella is an enchanting Mediterranean town, lively with cafés and outdoor terraces hidden among narrow cobble stone streets. Transportation to and from the dive site and planned excursions are included. Cost includes full room and board, transportation, accidental medical insurance,planned excursions, weights, tanks and air, PADI for those in group # 1, application fee and administrative cost. Airfare not included.

Cost: between $1650 to $2750

Academic Credit
Number of credits offered: none

Contact Information
Lana Johnson
APDO 68
Es Mercadal, Menorca 07740
Spain
sanisera@arrakis.es
Phone: (34) 699 69 55 80