Vasagård: Neolithic Settlements in the Baltic, Denmark - Institute for Field Research


Location: Rønne, Denmark

Season: 
June 23, 2019 to July 20, 2019

Application Deadline: 
Friday, April 5, 2019

Deadline Type: 
Rolling

Website: 
http://ifrglobal.org/program/denmark-vasagard/

Program Type

Field school

RPA certified

no

Affiliation:

Institute for Field Research, Connecticut College, BARC-Bornholm Museum, Denmark, National Museum, Denmark

Project Director:

Dr. Finn Ole Nielsen, Dr. Paul Otto Nielsen, Dr. M. Nicolás Caretta, MSc. Michael Thorsen

Project Description

The site of Vasagård is located on the southern side of the island of Bornholm, Denmark. Vasagård is separated by the 100m Læså valley from two nearly identical Neolithic sites, and consists of a tomb system where a dolmen and a passage grave can be found close to the settlement. The grave system and causewayed enclosures are dated from c. 3500 BC., and constitute the most north-eastern occurrence of this complex type in Europe. During the excavations of 2013-2017, almost three hundred broken and complete flat engraved stones were uncovered, marked with patterns of radiating straight lines. Named “sun stones” or “solar stones”, archaeologists from the Bornholm Museum have postulated that these artifacts were likely part of the rituals carried out by Neolithic sun-worshipping practitioners about 5,000 years ago. New excavations will help to increase and to improve the amount of information about the site and the Neolithic history of the Baltic region.

Period(s) of Occupation: Neolithic Europe

Project size: 
1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Participants are required to stay for the full duration of the field school.

Minimum age: 
18

Experience required: 
No prior experience is required to participate in this field school.

Room and Board Arrangements

The field house is in the city of Rønne, capital of the island of Bornholm. It has been adapted into a comfortable bungalow with beds (bathrooms with shower, WC, and heating system), which also provides free Wi-Fi. Participants are expected to bring sleeping bags and personal towels. Rooms will be shared.

Food is not included in the tuition for this program. The house, however, is properly furnished with all the cooking appliances and refrigerators so students can share the tasks of doing the shopping and cooking their own meals on their own. In the city, there are several options of places where food can be bought for affordable prices (approx. 15 to 20 $US). Food stores are within a walking distance from the guest house.

Cost: 
Room is covered in cost of the tuition. Participants should budget money to cover their food during the program.

Academic Credit

Name of institution offering credit: 
Connecticut College
Number of credits offered 8 Semester Credits
Tuition: 
$4,070

Location

Contact Information
Instute for Field Research
2999 Overland Ave. Suite 103
Los Angeles
CA
USA
90064
info@ifrglobal.org
Telephone: 
424-209-1173
Recommended Bibliography: 

MANDATORY READINGS

British Archaeological Job Resources. 2004. Short Guide to GPS. BAJR Practical Guide Series. Read Pp. 2-12.

Davies, Dafydd. 2002. Stratification Theory. BAJR Series, Guide 40. Read Pp. 1-94.

Joukowsky, Marta and Graydon Wood. 1980. Complete Manual of Field Archaeology: Tools and Techniques of Fieldwork for Archaeologists. A Spectrum Book. Read Pp. 132-149.

Madsen, T. 1988. Causawayed enclosures in South Scandinavia. In C. Burgess et al. (eds.): Enclosures and Defenses in the Neolithic of Western Europe. BAR International Series 403, pp. 301-336.

Nielsen, Poul Otto. 2012. Causewayed camps, palisade enclosures and central settlements of the Middle Neolithic in Denmark. Journal of Nordic Archaeological Science 14, pp. 19-33.

Nielsen, F.O. and P. O. Nielsen. 1991. The Middle Neolithic Settlement at Grødbygård, Bornholm. In K. Jennbert et al. (eds.): Regions and Reflections in Honor of Märta Strömberg. Acta Archaeologica Lundensia Series in 8, N.20, pp. 51-65. Lund.

Renfrew, Colin and Paul Bahn. 2000. Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. Thames and Hudson, UK (Third Edition). Read Pp. 49-170.

World Heritage Organization. 2016. Archaeological Excavation. http://www.worldheritage.org/articles/Archaeological_excavation. Pp. 1-49.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Anders, N. H. 1982. A Neolithic causeway camp at Trelleborg near Slagelse, West Zealand. Journal of Danish Archaeology 1, Pp. 31-33.

Anders, N. H. 1997 The Sarup Enclosures. Jutland Archaeological Society Publications 33:1. Århus.

Jensen, Jørgen. 2013. The Prehistory of Denmark from the Stone Age to the Vikings. Gyldendal. København. Parts I and II (Pp. 67-117).

Hvass, Steen and Birger Storgaard (eds.). 1993 Digging into the past. 25 years of Archaeology in Denmark. The Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries and The Jutland Archaeological Society. Chapters 1, 2 and 3 (Pp. 16-126).