The Kent/UCLA Field School on Late Roman Ostia
Italy
Summer 2010
Student Quotes
As soon as I took off to fly home, I knew that I needed to return to Ostia! During my time spent in the ancient city I was able to improve upon archaeological skills that I have already learnt, such as excavating and processing finds and was presented with many opportunities to learn new ones such as surveying, planning and artefact photography. My time there also allowed me to develop my supervisory and logistical planning skills.
Having never travelled to Italy before, I had been told that I would not be disappointed with the archaeology of Rome, which was visible on every street corner. Never has such a truer word been spoken. Truly awe inspiring! From the catacombs of the early Christians to the pomp, scale and magnificence of the Imperial architecture – what more can I say?
(Helen Harrington, student trained as site supervisor 2008)
Having only once dug before, on a site in England, the opportunity to go to Italy to excavate was a promising one for me. Once I was there, all aspects of the dig were different to any that I had previously experienced. The small, friendly group of people were great to work with, and the mixture of experienced and new diggers was just right. When the hard days work was over, we always had the chance to grab a beer or two in the nearby town, before returning to camp for a tasty meal cooked by one of the team. The days off were always fun too, a mixture of a big night out to the beach or into Rome for drinks, followed by a relaxing day seeing the sights in and around the Italian capital. The mixture of amazing people and great digging conditions made this a truly memorable excavation, one which I am glad I was a part of, and would relish the chance to return to Ostia over the following years.
(Michael Joyce)