“La Biagiola” International School of Archaeology (B.I.S.A.)

Location: Strada Provinciale Montebuono, 12, 58010 Sorano GR, Italy

Season: October 16, 2026 to August 6, 2027

Session Dates: The cost is €2200 for two weeks. The Fall School is taking place from OCTOBER 16 to OCTOBER 30; Application Deadline 25/09/2026 the Winter School is taking place from FEBRUARY19 to March 5; Application Deadline 29/01/2027 the Spring School is taking place from MAY 14 to MAY 28; Application Deadline 23/04/2027 The Summer School is divided into two two-week shifts: July 9–23 and July 23–August 6. Students attending the Summer Session for two weeks only must enroll in the First Module; the Second Module is available only as part of the full four-week Summer Session.. APPLICATION DEADLINE 18/06/2027 The Fall School 2027 is taking place from SEPTEMBER 24 to OCTOBER 8; Application Deadline 3/09/2027

Application Deadline: September 3, 2027

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://www.culturaterritorio.org

Discount for AIA members: AIA members will get 10% reduction

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Associazione "Cultura e Territorio"; Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio (SABAP) per le Province di Siena, Grosseto e Arezzo; Comune di Sorano

Project Director:
Luca Mario Nejrotti, Ph.D.

Project Description:

B.I.S.A. “La Biagiola” International School of Archaeology — Seasonal Campaign 2026–2027 (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)

The B.I.S.A. “La Biagiola” International School of Archaeology Seasonal Campaign 2026–2027 is a comprehensive and immersive field school offering students direct experience in the investigation, documentation, interpretation, and protection of archaeological heritage spanning from Prehistory to the Renaissance.

The campaign includes five seasonal sessions between Fall 2026 and Fall 2027, organized into six two-week modules. Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions each consist of one two-week module, while the Summer Session consists of two consecutive two-week modules. Students attending the Summer Session for two weeks only must enroll in the First Module; the Second Module is available only as part of the full four-week Summer Session.

The program combines traditional archaeological field methods with advanced digital technologies and offers hands-on training in excavation, Landscape Archaeology, archaeological survey, Architectural Archaeology, salvage archaeology, GIS, photogrammetry, laser scanning, SLAM technologies, 3D reconstruction, and archaeological communication.

Participants experience the archaeological process from field investigation and documentation to interpretation, digital recording, heritage protection, and public communication.

During the 2026–2027 campaign, students will take part in activities conducted within four complementary research projects: Rocca Tédula, Stone and the River, La Biagiola, and the Sovana Archaeological Park.

Depending on the season, research priorities, and field conditions, activities may include the excavation and digital documentation of Rocca Tédula and its medieval settlement; archaeological survey and mapping throughout the Sorano territory; investigation and preservation of the multi-layered site of La Biagiola; and research, documentation, and heritage protection within the archaeological landscape of Sovana.

Particular attention will be devoted to archaeological evidence that remains unidentified, poorly documented, or potentially threatened by development, erosion, environmental processes, or other forms of landscape transformation. Students may therefore gain experience not only in research excavation but also in field survey, rapid assessment, archaeological recording, and salvage archaeology.

Participants will work alongside experienced archaeologists and fellow international students, taking part directly in archaeological fieldwork, laboratory activities, lectures, cultural excursions, and digital documentation.

They will learn and apply current survey and recording methods, including architectural survey, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), visual SLAM (vSLAM), photogrammetry, laser scanning, GIS, LiDAR-based analysis, and 3D reconstruction.

The program is conducted in cooperation with the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Siena, Grosseto e Arezzo.

In addition to their archaeological experience, participants will have the opportunity to explore archaeological sites, historic centers, museums, cultural landscapes, and natural attractions throughout southern Tuscany.

The B.I.S.A. program is open to undergraduate and graduate students in archaeology, anthropology, history, art history, museology, and related disciplines. Previous coursework or field experience in archaeology is preferred but not required; students without previous field experience will receive introductory training at the beginning of their module.

Featured Disciplines

Archaeology, Anthropology, Landscape Archaeology, Architectural Archaeology, Digital Archaeology, Public Archaeology, Art History, Museology, Archaeometry, and Archaeological Communication.

Coursework

Students will gain practical experience across the principal areas of archaeological field research and heritage work, including stratigraphic excavation, archaeological survey, Landscape Archaeology, Architectural Archaeology, burial archaeology, salvage archaeology, archaeological documentation, finds processing and analysis, GIS, photogrammetry, laser scanning, SLAM and vSLAM technologies, 3D modeling, geophysical survey, and open-source archaeological recording.

Lectures and field instruction will also address the historical, archaeological, geological, and environmental context of the region; stratigraphic theory and methodology; non-invasive archaeological methods; public archaeology; Etruscan funerary landscapes; medieval castles and architecture; and the material culture of the Fiora Valley.

Coursework will introduce students to the long-term development of southern Tuscany, from Prehistory through the Etruscan and Roman periods to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

The 2026–2027 Campaign

Safeguarding archaeological heritage begins with rigorous investigation, accurate documentation, and timely protection.

The 2026–2027 campaign combines excavation with Landscape Archaeology, digital documentation, archaeological survey, and salvage archaeology, extending research from individual archaeological sites to the broader landscape of the Sorano territory.

The campaign is organized around four complementary projects pursuing three overarching objectives: archaeological investigation, digital documentation, and heritage protection.

The Rocca Tédula Project

Rocca Tédula is a medieval castle first documented in the late 12th century and a historic symbol of the community of Montevitozzo.

The project investigates the fortified complex and its surrounding medieval settlement through excavation, Architectural Archaeology, landscape analysis, and advanced digital documentation.

Students will examine military architecture, construction phases, siege warfare, craft and domestic activities, settlement organization, water management, storage, and daily life within a medieval fortified community.

Research objectives include the continued excavation of the castle and village, investigation of the building uncovered during the summer 2025 campaign and currently interpreted as associated with craft activities, identification and documentation of houses and ancillary structures within the walled settlement, and further research into the location and archaeological context of the long-lost 12th-century Church of Santa Croce.

Digital documentation is an integral part of the project. Laser scanning, photogrammetry, GIS, and archaeological data will contribute to the progressive development of an informative digital twin of the castle and its settlement.

The “Stone and the River” Project

Human settlement in the Fiora Valley has been closely shaped by its rivers and distinctive rocky landscape.

This diachronic Landscape Archaeology project investigates the traces left by human communities across the territory, including built features such as castles, churches, villas, sanctuaries, and settlements, as well as rock-cut features such as necropolises, hermitages, canals, roads, and other archaeological structures.

Fieldwalking, historical cartography, drone mapping, LiDAR-derived terrain models, GIS, photogrammetry, and other survey techniques will be used to identify, map, document, and interpret archaeological evidence from Prehistory to the Renaissance, including sites that have not previously been archaeologically recorded.

The “La Biagiola” Project

La Biagiola is a multi-layered archaeological site with evidence of occupation extending from the Protohistoric period through the Etruscan and Roman phases and into the Lombard and later medieval periods.

Research focuses on excavation, documentation, conservation, finds processing, and public interpretation, allowing students to investigate long-term continuity and transformation within the archaeological landscape of the Fiora Valley.

The Sovana Archaeological Park Project

Activities conducted within the archaeological landscape of Sovana contribute to the investigation, documentation, protection, and public interpretation of its extensive rock-cut necropolises and associated archaeological features.

Students may participate in field survey, documentation, conservation-related activities, and digital recording aimed at improving our understanding and protection of this exceptional archaeological landscape.

Salvage Archaeology and Heritage Protection

Where required by heritage protection needs, students may also take part in salvage archaeology activities, including the identification, rapid assessment, recording, digital documentation, and, where appropriate, investigation of archaeological evidence at risk.

This component of the program introduces participants to the practical relationship between archaeological research and heritage protection, showing how field methods and digital technologies can be applied when archaeological remains are threatened by development, erosion, environmental processes, or other forms of landscape transformation.

Through this integrated approach, B.I.S.A. aims to build a broader understanding of the archaeological landscape of Sorano across the longue durée. By combining research, professional training, digital documentation, heritage protection, and community involvement, the campaign contributes to safeguarding a still largely unexplored archaeological territory while fostering a shared sense of stewardship and responsibility for its future.

Because the field school operates within one of the richest archaeological landscapes of southern Tuscany, cultural excursions are an integral part of the program. Destinations may include the Etruscan necropolis of Sovana, the Etruscan rock-cut roads known as the Vie Cave, and the historic centers, museums, and fortifications of Sorano, Pitigliano, and other nearby towns.

Leisure activities also form part of the experience. Lake Bolsena, the thermal springs at Saturnia, local festivals, historic villages, and the natural landscapes of the Maremma offer participants numerous opportunities to discover and enjoy southern Tuscany beyond archaeological fieldwork.

Period(s) of Occupation: Excavation: Middle Ages period. Survey: from Prehistory to Modern Era

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: The whole two weeks session in Fall, Winter, and Spring; at leas the first two weeks in Summer

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: To participate in the field school, applicants are required to have completed at least one university-level course in archaeological methodology. However, we understand that some applicants may not meet this prerequisite. In such cases, applications will still be considered, but acceptance will be contingent upon the completion of supplementary courses at the beginning of the field school. The official language of the field school is English and no knowledge of Italian is required. However, Italian or French knowledge will be taken as an advantage.

Room and Board Arrangements:
The tuition includes both educational and room and board. Arrival and departure: students are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from Italy. The Master Class is taking place in the municipality of Sorano (GR), in the south of Tuscany, personnel are authorized to transport to and from the Pitigliano bus station. Accommodations: students will be accommodated in a modern facility in the Tuscan countryside, in triple-bed rooms with private bathrooms, close to the premises where communal activities and teaching will take place. The school house address is: Montebuono, 58010 Sorano GR Meals: lunch and dinner, consisting of typical Italian dishes, will be consumed at the accommodation (International School fee only includes water; all other drinks are not included). Breakfast (consisting of coffee, milk, tea or caffe latte and pastries) will be consumed at the accommodation. On Saturdays no dinner will be provided by staff. On Sunday no lunch will be provided by staff. Every effort will be made to accommodate students with food allergies (nuts, shellfish, etc.); students with food allergies are required to inform the staff of their specific dietary restrictions upon application. We also will try to accommodate individual lifestyles and dietary choices (e.g. vegetarianism) too: student must inform the staff of any special request upon application, no special dietary request after application will be taken in consideration. More info in the brochure and at www.culturaterritorio.org

Academic Credit:
To support students’ requests for academic credit from their home institutions, BISA will issue a signed certificate detailing the activities completed and the corresponding workload.