CALADINHO ROMAN TOWER PROJECT (from 80€/day)

Location: MF7H+4P Redondo, Portugal

Season: May 10, 2026 to May 30, 2026

Session Dates: May 10th to 30th

Application Deadline: March 14, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://www.caladinho.com/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Redondo Town hall

Project Director:
Rui Mataloto

Project Description:

In the 2026 season, the Caladinho Archaeological Project will continue its excavation at the Roman fort of Caladinho and expand its focus to include a landscape survey in the Alentejo region. Students will be able to spend some days as part of the excavation team, working to uncover the remains of the Roman fortified structure.

Period(s) of Occupation: Previous fieldwork at Caladinho uncovered the remains of a fortified structure related to the Roman colonization of the region in the 1st century B.C.E. Caladinho is the first example of one of these small, fortified, rural structures to be systematically excavated in the Alentejo region. The primary goal of this project is the identification of the inhabitants, the chronology of the site's occupation, and its place within the larger regional context. This upcoming season of fieldwork will continue the excavation of the domestic area extending to the north and east, and continue targeted archaeological reconnaissance of the remainder of the site.

Notes:
Field school students receive instruction in excavation techniques, the handling and processing of artifacts, and the recording of exposed areas and features. Students on survey are also trained in the collection of artifacts, the assessment of survey grids, and best principles for accurate data collection. No prior experience in archaeology is required. Both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 1 week

Minimum Age: 16

Experience Required: No previous experience required

Room and Board Arrangements:
Housing Students are housed in the town of Redondo, Portugal, very near to the archaeological site. Space is communal, and most rooms house two or more students (sometimes on bunk beds). We share a kitchen, bathrooms, washing machine, and living room, and so we also share the responsibility of cleaning these spaces. Meals The project provides three meals per day on weekdays. Breakfast is provided at the dig house, and students are expected to prepare it themselves. Lunch is served at a local restaurant, and dinner is provided by other local restaurants but eaten at home. Students should expect to eat the traditional cuisine of the Alentejo region. We make every effort to accommodate vegetarians, but any participant with special dietary requirements or food allergies must contact us before the beginning of the project. On weekends, students should expect to provide their own meals. Redondo has some restaurants that stay open on weekends, and there are two grocery stores in town as well as numerous cafes and shops. Since we often take field trips on weekends, students have the opportunity to sample the restaurants and cuisine of other towns and regions. Transportation The project provides transportation while students are in Portugal. Students must purchase their own plane tickets to and from Lisbon, Portugal. We meet students at the Lisbon airport when they arrive and bring them to Redondo, Portugal. At the end of their three-week session, we also transport students back to Lisbon, either directly to the airport or elsewhere in the city if they are planning on a longer stay after the project. Please be sure to inform us of your travel plans as far in advance as possible!