2027 Spain Forensic Archaeology of Mass Burials at the Chelva Monastery

Location: 46176 Chelva, Valencia, Spain

Season: May 30, 2027 to June 26, 2027

Application Deadline: April 16, 2027

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://anthroctr.org/program/2027-spain-chelva

Discount for AIA members: None

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
University of Valencia (Spain), Fundación Antonia Calavel (Spain) & nthropocene Research Center (US)

Project Director:
Dr. Llorenç Alapont Martin (University of Valencia) & Mr. Juan José Ruiz Lopez (Fundación Antonia Calavel)

Project Description:

Across time and space, many civilizations bury their dead in collective, mass graves. From the ancient civilizations of Peru through Egypt and even the biblical Israelites, shared ancestral burial sites are common. This creates highly complex burial grounds where numerous human remains and associated artifacts are mixed together. The excavation, documentation and interpretation of such sites is highly complex, and this field school focuses on training students to study such sites.

This field school takes place at the site of the Medieval Monastery of Chelva, established in 1390 CE. According to written records, between 1551-1558 CE, the Viscounts of Chelva – important leaders of the Iberian period – were buried under the alter of the church. During the summer of 2025, excavations within the church revealed two large burial chambers with burials of multiple humans in each.

This field school has two parts. For the initial two weeks, students will learn how to excavate the complex burial sites, carefully documenting stratigraphy and spatial relationships between the many human remains. For the latter two weeks of the program, students will work at a lab, carefully studying and documenting recovered human remains, carrying out the inventory and cataloguing of artifacts recovered from the burial cists. Students will learn how to identify each bone, to determine age, gender, possible cause of death and a range of other indicators within the forensic archaeology framework.

Period(s) of Occupation: Medieval Archaeology, Bioarchaeology

Notes:
Tuition is $4,954 Earn 8 Semester Credit Units through our School of Record – Culver Stockton College

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full session

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: None. This is hands-on, experiential learning and students will study on-site how to conduct forensic archaeology research. Forensic work requires patient, respect and understanding of the capacity of humans for extreme violence. It demands discipline and attention to detail.

Room and Board Arrangements:
Cost of Room and Board is included in tuition.

Academic Credit:
8 Semester Credit Units through our School of Record – Culver Stockton College