Gallicano Field School in Medieval Archaeology and Bioarchaeology ~ UNIPI

Language: English

Period: 1 – 18 July 2025

Deadline: 15 April 2025

Program Intensity: Full-time

ECTS: 10

Tuition fees: 1000€

Other costs: 1200€ euro

The Gallicano Field School in Medieval Archaeology and Bioarchaeology offers students a unique opportunity to engage in archaeological and bioarchaeological fieldwork. The program is centered around excavations at the Pieve di San Cassiano site in Gallicano, a municipality located approximately 20 miles north of Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.
The Pieve di San Cassiano dates back to the early Middle Ages, though its exact foundation date remains uncertain. It was once a prominent religious center in the Serchio Valley, overseeing 23 churches. Following the Black Death in 1348, the Pieve gradually declined until its complete abandonment in the 15th century. Today, the site, nestled within a wooded area, offers a well-preserved archaeological context, including the remains of the church, outbuildings, fortifications, and extensive cemetery areas.
Previous excavations in 2024 uncovered an imposing medieval building (11th-13th century) measuring 24 meters long by 18 meters wide, with three naves and three apses. Significant cemetery phases were also identified in the churchyard and behind the apses. Additionally, the remains of an earlier medieval building with stone burials were discovered.
The 2025 excavation campaign will focus on further exploring the medieval and early medieval contexts, including the cemetery areas and the structures of the church and annexed buildings.

Aim

This Summer School is part of a broader academic project led by the Division of Palaeopathology at the University of Pisa. This project aims to investigate the biocultural complexity of the region surrounding Lucca during the Middle Ages. Specific objectives include:

Excavation and analysis of the medieval cemetery, focusing on demography, burial characteristics, and funerary rituals.
Bioarchaeological analysis of the medieval population, including biodiversity, paleopathology, and activity markers.
Reconstruction of the settlement’s evolution from the late antique period to the modern age.
Analysis of the material culture of the religious center, with emphasis on commercial dynamics, economic activities, and the dissemination of technical knowledge related to the site’s life.

Beyond academic research, the project seeks to foster public engagement in archaeology. This involves involving the local community in archaeological research and implementing effective practices for sharing findings with the broader public, particularly regarding the significance of medieval human remains for contemporary society.
The Gallicano Field School provides students with a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in archaeological excavation and bioarchaeological investigation under the guidance of leading researchers.
Participants will learn about archaeological field methods, including survey, excavation, GIS, informatics, bioarchaeological techniques, skeletal remains handling, and material culture analysis. The program combines fieldwork with laboratory activities and lectures on archaeological theory and practice.

Who can apply

The program is open to a maximum of 15 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students in archaeology, anthropology, or related disciplines from any country and institution.

Application

Admission Requirements

The Summer School has no formal prerequisites, and students will receive comprehensive training for all activities. Interested applicants must complete and submit the online Application Form.

Before arriving in Italy, students are required to complete all readings on the provided reading list.

Active participation in both fieldwork and laboratory activities is mandatory.

Students must demonstrate a solid understanding of the concepts and techniques used in the field. The readings will cover topics such as bioarchaeology, stratigraphy, and geographic information systems. A strong grasp of these subjects is crucial for maximizing on-site learning.

Student participation and performance will be evaluated throughout the Summer School. A Final Examination will be administered during the last week of the program to assess the student’s mastery of theoretical and practical concepts and techniques.

Important notice:

The Summer School will be activated with at least 8 students.
The maximum number of participants is set to 15 students.

Required documents:

Identity Document (PASSPORT in case you are a foreign student)
Enrolment Form
Curriculum vitae
Statement of interest
Proof of tetanus vaccination
Medical certificate of physical fitness

All the documents must be in pdf format, in order to upload them on the portal when required.

Application has to be submitted via Alice portal following the instructions of the “How to apply” page.

Fees

Tuition fees: 1000€

Other costs: 1200€ (for accomodation)

Pay fees by Debit/Credit Card or PayPal online using the following: Payment Form.

Notice:

International students without Italian Tax Code: please tick the box ‘Anonymous’ in order to disable the field ‘Italian personal ID/VAT number’.
Please type your NAME and SURNAME next to the pre-filled text of the field ‘Reason’.
Please pay only after receiving the admission letter.
Both tuition fees (1000€) and accomodation costs (1200€) are included in the total amount.

Refund policy

By 5 April 2025:Withdrawal is allowed with a penalty of 30% of the registration fee already paid.
After 5 April 2025: Fees are non-refundable.

Fundings

Two partial fee waivers – amounting to 500 euro each – will be awarded after an evaluation of the received CVs, giving priority to students coming from developing countries, to those who apply by 15 March 2025 and request the scholarship writing an email to Prof. Antonio Fornaciari (antonio.fornaciari@unipi.it).

Application deadline: 15 April 2025

Important notice:

15 March 2025 is the early bird application deadline for those interested in applying for the available scholarship.
Applications may be closed ahead of the scheduled application deadline in case of early reaching of the maximum number of students eligible.

Attachments:

Poster

Contacts

Coordinator
Dr. Antonio Fornaciari antonio.fornaciari@unipi.it

Website https://www.paleopatologia.it/attivita/field-school-gallicano/

Summer/Winter School Office support.summerschool@unipi.it

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Gallicano Field School in Medieval Archaeology and Bioarchaeology

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