Archaeology in Spain is a study abroad program that provides hands-on experience in classical archaeology. Participants will learn how to excavate, preserve, and present antiquities. The program also teaches skills in emerging technologies, including remote sensing, geophysics, and mapping.
The Program
Four-week training regimen in fieldwork and museology at a 3000-year-old archaeological site and brand-new regional museum.
Course Credit
- 6 credits in ANTH + ARTH coursework
- 5 credit internships in archaeology are available
- Fulfills the field experience requirement for archaeology majors
- Communications Intensive, Depth Humanities & Creative Arts, and Breadth Humanities-designated courses
- No prerequisites
Museum Studies Certificate
Both courses count toward fulfilling requirements for students earning the Museum Studies Certificate.
Curriculum
- Field survey
- Excavation
- Prospecting
- Artifact analysis
- Remove sensing
- Geophysics
- Site preservation
- Aerial drone survey
- Photogrammetry
- Dataset management
- Tomography
- Artifact conservation
- Find photography
- Archive management
- Curation
Career-Oriented
Skills earned are valued by private firms and public bureaus seeking to employ workers with foundational skills in cultural resource management. Graduate programs readily admit candidates with real-world experience.
- U.S. Department of the Interior | Bureau of Land Management
- USDA Forest Service
- Utah State Historic Preservation Office
- Utah Department of Natural Resources
- Utah Cultural Site Stewardship
- Bighorn Archaeology Consultants
- Metcalf Archaeological Consultants
- Brockington + Associates
- G2Archaeology
Location
Region
La Rioja is a province in northern Spain bordering on the Basque Country. The Ebro River cuts through the Pyrenean highlands in the north to water vast fertile valleys in the south. La Rioja is known for its fine wines and a dynamic cuisine that blends continental sophistication with farm-to-table sensibility. The capital of Logroño provides urban frivolities to balance the bucolic character of the region.
Municipality
The project's home base is in Aguilar del Rio Alhama. Recorded as a municipality in 1198, the medieval village nevertheless features every basic day-to-day amenity. Logroño and Zaragoza are a 90-minute bus ride away, making weekend getaways to Bilbao, Madrid, or Barcelona a breeze.
Site
Contrebia Leucade is an Iron Age Celtiberian settlement and Roman colony. It is one of the most important sites in Spain for understanding Roman dominion and Celtic resistance in the Late Republic. Projects include the ongoing study of Celtiberian domiciles and the discovery of the Roman marching camp associated with the siege of 77 BCE.
Students will work in an archaeological park with restrooms, water fountains, and a picnic area. Students will contribute to a professional archaeological project. Students will discover 2000-year-old material remains.
Infrastructure
Albergue La Chopera is a former Catholic school inherited by the municipality of Aguilar del Rio Alhama. Students will room with peers in separate dorms. Bathrooms and showers serve 20. The site is a ten-minute walk from the student dorm.
The program provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner on workdays. Local proprietors are contracted to provide dinners at La Chopera. Accommodations for vegetarians and vegans are available.
Students will process field finds and learn artifact preservation and curation at the Contrebia Leucade Interpretation Center in Aguilar del Rio Alhama.
Program Excursions
Participants will visit sites that include the earliest cave paintings, majestic cathedrals, renowned museums, and key archaeological sites in northern Spain.
Students can look forward to visiting Muro, Agreda, Burgos, Soria, Numantia, Santander, Altamira, El Castillo, Atapuerca, Zaragoza, Logroño, Santander, Oviedo, Clunia…and more!
Weekend Liberties
Participants are not sequestered. Extended weekends are worked into the program to facilitate student excursions to nearby Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao. Seaside and mountain destinations are within a few hours' reach by public transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to speak Spanish? No. This is not a language program.
- Is the program just for archaeologists? No. The skills taught are relevant to anyone interested in a career in cultural management and visual studies.
- Is Spain a safe country? Yes. Spain is very safe. As a member of the EU, it is advanced in every amenity and service, including security.
- Do I need to be an ANTH/ARTH major? No. The program is open to all students.
- Is travel included in the fee? No. Upon arrival in Aguilar, room and board and excursions are included in the fee.
- Will I be stuck in Aguilar? No. Extended weekends and field trips are factored into the schedule.
- Can I get financial aid? Yes. There are many funding options for Study Abroad at USU.