Project outline
The Torre Mordillo Project explores aspect of interaction between Greek and indigenous populations of Southern Italy from the 6th c. BCE to the Roman Age.
The site of Torre Mordillo is located on a hill in the territory of Spezzano Albanese (Cosenza, Italy), from which it overlooks the confluence point of the Esaro and Coscile rivers. Thanks to its strategic location, the site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age and has played a crucial role during the so-called Greek colonization. When around 720 BCE the Greeks founded the close-by colony of Sybaris, the native populations settled at Torre Mordillo. However, the real nature of the site is unclear. Some scholars suggest that the Greeks at some point conquered Torre Mordillo, others conversely think that Greeks and Indigenous they lived in cooperation.
Field school program — June 3 -July 5, 2024 (5 weeks)
The program is designed to offer students a holistic view of methodologies and techniques of modern archaeological research, as well as the main theoretical issues related to this discipline, through an extended period of experiential learning.
The field school entails 5 weeks of archaeological fieldwork (excavation), classification, analysis and emergency restoration of ancient artifacts and application of 3D scanning and digital photogrammetry to archaeological contexts.
Daily field work will mostly consist of:
- Archaeological excavation using the single context recording system
- Site recording including technical drawing, context recording and photography
- Artefact processing including handling, cleaning, and storage
Artefact retrieval and finds cataloguing
- Field trips to close-by archaeological sites, antiquariums, and museums
- Lectures delivered by team member and specialists
Location: Torro Mordillo (Spezzano Albanese), Cosenza, Italy
# of students: 10-12
Professor: Dr. Ilaria Battiloro, Classics
Academic credit: 6 (CLAS 3501 and CLAS 3511)
Full Funding: For the spring 2024 field school, there will be approximately 6 students that will receive full funding from GSO to participate in this field school. Fully funded students will identify as low-income and/or be registered with the Meighen Centre. Full funding is inclusive of the following costs: tuition for 2 courses, return flight, accommodation and meals while in Italy, in-country transportation and insurance.
Partial Funding: For spring 2024, there will be approximately 4 students that will receive partial funding from GSO to participate in this field school to cover the cost of tuition for 2 courses for the duration of the field school. Partially funded students will be required to pay a program fee to Mount Allison that will cover the cost of the return flight, accommodation and meals, insurance and in-country travel costs and expenses. The program fee will be $5000.
Language requirement: none (but some knowledge of Italian will be considered an asset)
Apply to the Torre Mordillo Archaeological Field School
Deadline to apply: Nov. 30, 2023
Questions? Email Dr. Ilaria Battiloro, Department of Classics, at ibattiloro@mta.ca.
