Iklaina Archaeological Project in Greece
The Iklaina Archaeological Project (IKAP) is an interdisciplinary research project in the area of Pylos, Greece. The project is carried out under the auspices of the Athens Archaeological Society and the direction of Michael Cosmopoulos of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Situated at a strategic location overlooking the Ionian Sea, Iklaina appears to have been an important district capital of the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1600-1100 BC). This is the period also known as “Mycenaean” and famous for such mythical sagas as the Trojan War.
The program has three components:
1. Archaeological Excavation
- excavation of the Early Helladic, Middle Helladic, and Mycenaean settlement at Iklaina
- Work with the finds and ceramics at the Pylos museum. This entails:
- washing and sorting pottery lots
- identifying and dating pottery shapes
- cataloguing important ceramics and artifact finds
2. Travel to major sites and museums in Greece
This summer's expedition includes trips to the following sites and their museums:
- The Palace of Nestor at Pylos, with its archive of tablets in the Linear B script, as well as its tholos tombs
- Mycenae, the capital city of Greece in Homer's Iliad, and home to Agamemnon, king of the Greeks in the Trojan war
- Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece
- the medieval castles of Methoni and its beach
- ancient Olympia, home of the Olympic Games, where we will have special tours of the ancient stadium and athletic installations
- a one-day cruise to the island of Sphakteria and adjacent Golden Beach
- and there will be plenty of time to explore all of the nearby beaches of sandy Pylos
3. Evening lectures on Greek history, literature, philosophy, archaeology, art, and culture.
Daily Schedule
6:00am Wake-up call
6:30am Breakfast in the hotel lounge. Departure for the site (ride ca. 20 mins.)
7:00-11:00 Excavation
11:00-11:30 Break for a light lunch
11:30-13:00 Excavation
13:30-17:00 Free time (usually we explore the beaches of the area)
17:00-19:00 Evening lectures and/or work in the lab (drawings, writing, studying of finds, etc.)
19:30-21:30 Dinner at the hotel's seafront dining area. The rest of the evening is free.
Join us and experience the fascinating world of archaeology and the beauty of the country that became the cradle of western civilization! By joining us, not only will you be able to participate in real archaeological fieldwork, but you will also have the opportunity to travel to major archaeological sites and museums in Greece, and also attend lectures on Greek history, literature, philosophy, archaeology, art, and culture.
See the program website at www.iklaina.org for photos, testimonials, and schedules.
Program led by Dr. Michael Cosmopoulos.
Credit:
Participants will earn six credits
Anthro 3290 Advanced Topics in Archaeology: Greek History and Culture
And either
Anthro 2109 or 4302: Archaeological Field School
Dates:
Two sessions are available. Choose from:
May 29 - June 18, 2009 (Session I)
June 18 - July 8, 2009 (Session II)
Estimated Costs:
UMSL Tuition: $1,546.80 (6 credits. 2008 rate; summer 2009 rate TBA in April.)
Program Fee*: $2790
Meals and Personal Expenses: $700 - $1200 (depends on personal habits)
Airfare: $1200 (Estimate. Students purchase airfare individually)
*(approximate; please note that costs have been calculated with the October 2008 USD:Euro exchange rate; final amounts may change depending on the currency exchange rates in spring 2009 and total number of participants)
PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES
- accommodation in air-conditioned rooms with TV and private baths (double occupancy); most rooms (first-come first-serve basis) have breathtaking views of the bay of Navarino
- buffet breakfast and full four-course dinner every day
- entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums
- all travel to archaeological sites and museums and daily transportation to and from the dig site
- one-day cruise to the island of Sphakteria and the Bay of Navarino
- all trips to the beautiful sandy beaches of the area
Application Process:
Applicants will need to submit the following documents to the Study Abroad
Office. Forms are available online
or in the Study Abroad Office, 261 MSC. Application and non-refundable
deposit of $500 are due by March 16, 2009.
1. Iklaina Study Abroad Application Form
2. Continuing Education Form
3. Risk and Release Form
4. Non-refundable** $500 deposit (due at time of application - check payable
to UMSL, credit cards not accepted )
5 . Transcript for NON-UMSL students
6 . Scholarship application and scholarship essay (UMSL students only. Eligible UMSL students will receive a $1000 scholarship.)
7. Two identical passport-sized photos
Upon your acceptance to the program, additional forms will be mailed to you. You will need to complete and return them to the Study Abroad Office in a timely manner.
Balance of fees is due May 1, 2007.
**deposit will be refunded if you are not selected to participate in the program.
Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation:
All
UM-St. Louis students who study abroad are required to attend pre-departure orientation. This session will cover registration and financial aid, credit transfer, travel, health and safety topics, culture shock, and much more.
Non UM-St. Louis students residing in the St. Louis area are also welcome to attend. Please notify the Study Abroad Office if you will be attending so that we may send you a parking permit and directions.