The academic program will resume in the summer of 2025. Registrations will open soon!
Join us in the Tuscany countrysideJuly 12 to August 1
A 3-WEEK SESSION IN SUMMER 2026.
The Fieldschool Camaiano is designed to provide all attendees with an advanced knowledge of applied stratigraphy method, topographic surveys and analysis, GIS and photogrammetry, and material culture. Lectures and Labs will be taken during the week by several experts, as well as weekly visits to local museums and sites will be provided by the staff.
A program offered in collaboration with:
Camaiano Field School in Archaeology and on Medieval and Roman Material Culture
Camaiano Field School in Archaeology and on Medieval and Roman Material Culture 2026 is a part of the larger Camaiano Project. It is a program offered by the University of Bologna in Italy (the excavation team belongs to the universities of Florence, Bologna and the Catholic University of Milan) in collaboration with the Italian Ministery of Cultural Heritage, the Agriturismo Cappellese (in whose land the Camaiano excavation site is located), the Parco Culturale di Camaiano, the Gruppo Archeologico Paleontologico Livornese (GAPL) and the Municipality of Rosignano Marittimo.
Program & Dates
Summer 2026
The Field School aims to educate students in archaeological, anthropological, historical, and topographic methods and topics. It is a significant opportunity for students to learn methodologies and gain knowledge of the profession in a context that spans a broad historical timeline, from the Roman Age to the Middle Ages and Modern Age.
The immersive activity of the Field School, moreover, will be in a typical Tuscan context and includes first-class accommodation at the Podere La Madonnina, a 20-minute walk from the excavation area.
The official language of the Summer School is English and no knowledge of Italian is required.
Program includes:
- Field excavation
- Burials escavation
- Weekly labs/lectures specializing in:
- Survey
- Topography
- GIS (Including use of total stations)
- Photogrammetry
- Material Culture study and analysis
- Workshops
- Experimental Archaeology
Accomodation
Housing
Housing is provided by the Field School at Podere La Madonnina in double or triple rooms (separated for men and women) 20-min walking from the excavation site.
Meals
Participants in the Field School will be provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Sunday at dinner to Friday at dinner.
Weekends
No activities are planned on Saturdays and Sundays, and no meals are provided (except for dinner on Sundays). Participants are therefore free to do as they please. The closest train station is Rosignano, with daily train connections to Rome (3.5–4 hours), Florence (2 hours), and Pisa (30–45 minutes).
Structure and Methodologies
The course will be offered in English (with optional Italian translation) in the following formats:
- Field practice
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Labs
- Workshops
- Cultural trips
Working Hours
Monday through Friday, 7:30am-1:00pm
Archaeological lessons and workshops
Medieval Archaeology, field excavation, archaeologist’s tools, anthropology, and archaeological materials.
Hikings
Easy walks once a week to the local historical and archaeological sites like medieval mills of Sanguigna river and to the site of Monte Carvoli (ellenistic fortress and medieval castle).
Production of medieval coins
Experimental archaeology session consisting in coinage of medieval coins with medieval minting system.
Staff
Program coordinators
- Antonio Alberti – Principal Investigator
- Sabrina Bartali – Excavation site coordinator
On-field staff
- Alessandro Costantini – Area supervisor
- Sonia Turi – Area supervisor
- Elena Funghini – Restoration supervisor
- Fabio Stratta – Responsible for the Documentation & Students Coordinator
Academic coordinators
- Francesco Coschino (IRLAB)
- Alessandro Cariboni (IRLAB)
3-week session, accommodations & meals included
Participants in the Field School will be provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Sunday at dinner to Friday at dinner.
Participants will have access to an American tutor available 24/7 for any eventuality or need, and the excavation staff will be present Monday through Friday, near the accommodation.
The accommodation has a private swimming pool (accessible 24/7) and is close to Castelnuovo della Misericordia, a small town with a bar, supermarket, pharmacy, and bakery, and reachable by public transport.
Eligibility
The course is open to up to 16 undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students in archeology, anthropology or allied disciplines from any country and institution. Current enrollment in a university is not a requirement; all applications are evaluated equally and acceptance decisions are primarily based on merit.
Should minimum attendance requirement of 16 students not be met, course will be cancelled.
Admission Procedure
The Summer School has no formal prerequisites; students will be fully trained for all the activities they experience. Students interested in applying to the Summer School must fill out and submit the online Application Form.
Students must have valid international health and injury insurance (made available through student travel centers) and must provide the insurance provider’s contact information, as well as the policy number, including a proof of tetanus vaccination (or booster) within the last 10 years.
All students must read and accept the terms of the IRLAB Participation Agreement to participate in the program; a signed release form must be submitted prior to the start date of the Summer School.
Students will be required to pay fees in full within 15 business days of receipt of the invoice in case of admission. In case of student withdrawal, all fees minus a non-refundable deposit of $500 will be refunded until March 1, 2026. After March 1, 2026 fees will not be refunded. In the unlikely event of course cancellation, fees will be refunded in full (any applicable processing fees may not be refunded). Failure to provide all the above-mentioned documents and payment within the terms specified at the time of admission will constitute an automatic forfeiture of the student’s place in the summer school.
The application deadline is March 1, 2026. However, applications are reviewed as soon as they are received and successful applicants accepted right away.
Curriculum vitae and/or reference letters (e-mails) may be requested. The staff reserves the right to verify any of the information reported in the application form and request supporting documentation (e.g., advising reports; references) in its sole discretion. Staff will make final decisions regarding enrolment.
Acceptance will be communicated by e-mail. Upon acceptance, students will receive detailed instructions on how to submit required documentation and payments.
Credits
At the end of the program every participant will be provided with:
- Certificate of attendance from the University of Bologna will provide participants with official credits (ECTS) for their academic careers or independent study (10 ECTS per three weeks).
- Certificate of attendance from IRLAB
Although run independently of a specific university, participants may obtain academic credit for their participation in the program through independent study. We have a decade of experience working with students, their advisors, and administrative staff to develop customized independent study plans.
If you are interested in obtaining academic credits, please indicate your preference in your application. If you would like to obtain academic credits for the program, please consult with your advisors regarding the option to enroll in independent studies or an equivalent course at your university and having your advisor assign a grade based on our evaluation of your performance (as well as any additional requirements they may deem appropriate). If your advisor agrees to this arrangement, at the end of the program, IRLAB will send them a written evaluation and grade recommendation.
As IRLAB prepares for the possibility of holding in-person programs for the 2026 season and beyond we ask that interested participants keep in mind the following:
- Participants are advised not to purchase intercontinental flights without having consulted the guidelines of their government and without being sure that the program will take place.
- The successful operation of any in-person program will depend upon strict adherence to safety protocols based on the most up-to-date public health information.
- Restrictions may come from any level, including international travel to local municipal regulations, meaning that the restrictions in your community may differ from those at the project location.
- Due to this level of uncertainty, in-person programs may need to be cancelled with minimal prior notice.
While we sincerely hope to get back in the field with our incredible students at new and existing sites, IRLAB must prioritize health, safety, and adherence to regulations first and foremost. Should in-person programs be offered for the 2026 season, we will be updating interested students as often as possible.
We appreciate your continued patience and understanding!
Application form
Dear Applicants,
Please note that places in the program are assigned to successful students on a first come, first served basis; hence, it is advisable that you apply as soon as possible to increase your chances of being admitted.
If you have any questions regarding the program, contact info@irlabnp.org prior to submitting an application form.
Thank you for your interest in our program and good luck!