Students wanted for excavations in Cyprus

Professor Peter M. Fischer from the University of Gothenburg has carried out eight seasons of excavations from 2010 to 2017 at Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus. Hala Sultan Tekke is one of the largest Late Cypriot (Late Bronze Age) cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Students and archaeologists from Sweden, Austria, Australia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, South Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Syria, Switzerland and the USA have so far participated in the excavations.

Pre-excavation surveys with ground-penetrating radar and magnetometer resulted in the discovery of new city quarters which date mainly to the 13th and 12th centuries BCE, nevertheless earlier remains were found too. The excavations in 2018 will concentrate on these new city quarters. A number of spectacular finds confirm long-distance trade in the Eastern Mediterranean including Greece, Crete, Egypt, Anatolia, Syria, Lebanon and the Southern Levant, but also Italy and central and northern Europe. Finds include stone architecture, objects of sophisticated pottery, stone and metals, including bronze weapons and tools, gold and silver jewellery, and tools and installations for the production of copper and purple dyed textiles.

"We offer the opportunity for approximately 20 students to participate from 30 April – 1 June 2018. I would also like to encourage inexperienced students to apply, previous field work is not a precondition," says professor Peter M. Fischer.

The participants have to pay their travel expenses to and from Cyprus. Simple accommodation and basic meals will be provided by the expedition. Expenditures during leisure time have to be paid by the participants. Free excursions are planned for the weekends.

"Although exciting, the field work is tough, the climate is fairly harsh, and the participants should be prepared to spend long days in the field and during processing of the excavated material which will be treated immediately after its discovery."

Anton Lazarides studies archaeology at the University of Gothenburg and has participated on four occasions.

"It's very exciting, you learn a lot and it never gets boring. Physically, it is a hard work, but luckily, you are driven by the desire to find new knowledge. Another positive aspect is all the nice people you get to know as well as the good food and accommodation," he says.

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Interested students should contact teresa.buerge@oeaw.ac.at or peter@fischerarchaeology.se

Do not forget to attach your CV, preferably as pdf

Deadline for applications: 31 December 2017.

For further information: http://www.fischerarchaeology.se