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| Volunteering abroad |
| Archaeology |
For students of history excavations are indeed fascinating and rewarding. However one must be well-prepared. Though some projects accept participants with little or no previous training or experience, it is strongly recommended to learn some basic archaeological techniques before venturing into a project especially when abroad.
Opportunities for taking part in archaeological excavations differ from country to country. Those countries with well-organized national archaeological services offer a wide range of excavations at lowest costs. Elsewhere the scope may be limited. Permits to undertake archaeological investigations can be very difficult to obtain. In some countries, local labor is employed for non-specialist tasks thus reducing the need for volunteers. Political turmoil and upheavals can also severely limit archaeological activity; languages can also become barriers.
Many archaeological projects function as training courses or field schools. Though the fees might be a trifle on the higher side they generally include boarding and lodging, tuition, field trips among other things.
Archaeological fieldwork involves a great good deal of physical labor, so you need to be fit and healthy and enjoy working as part of a team. Remember to get an anti-tetanus vaccination administered.
The minimum age for such projects is 18 years, though some projects accept younger participants. The length of a field project varies between a weeks to the whole season, but will usually lasts two weeks.
An interesting option would be excavations in and around the city of Brasov, Romania, which has occupied a strategic location since the Hungarian Monarchy brought Saxon colonists to guard the mountain passes against the Tartars in the twelfth century, and has consequently been a site of diverse cultural traditions ranging from the Tartars, Saxons, Hungarians and Ottomans throughout the years. You will get an opportunity to carry out fieldwork assessing sites like the Saxon fortified churches that dot the country side around the city.
Your work will involve spending some time at the History Museum of Brasov, helping to update the literature, and create documents that will promote tourism at the archaeological sites.
Khmer Project
Explore the temple architecture and ruins of ancient civilizations along with modern aspects of Kampuchea as a part of the Khmer Project. The ruins of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat and images of temples now surrounded by jungles have enchanted travelers for centuries; even you will come to the conclusion that the architecture in matchless indeed.
Through Khmer Project, you will not only learn about Khmer culture, from the past to the present, but will also be able to aid local communities to work towards community development.
During the few months of the dry season (being a tropical country, the heavy summer downpours hinder outdoor activities), you will be able to participate in several archaeological expeditions around the country, guided by local archaeologists. To supplement the archaeology work, you will need to work on diverse cultural projects like museum work, or working with local organizations promoting cultural preservation. You will also have to join monthly expeditions to the lesser known temples and cultural sites. In addition, you might get a chance to participate in weekly traditional puppet shows and dancing classes.
Khmer Project volunteers will need to help out at English clubs for Kampuchean university students or assist ongoing construction projects in local villages. This will raise the level of international awareness in the region, and prepare the indigenous people for influx of tourists.
The Inca Projects
The archaeological excavations in Peru will prove to be at once exciting and memorable In fact Peru is an archaeologist’s paradise home to a horde of pre-Columbian civilizations and empires. Peru possesses a greater number of unexcavated archaeological sites than anywhere else in the region.
If you plan to take up history at college, a gap-year placement for doing archeological work will provide you an excellent grounding for the courses. It will also prove to be a great experience for careers in forensics as well anthropology.
Peru is home to a colorful mix of diverse races and cultural cross-currents. Whether you are a student or an explorer Cusco's Inca trail is a perennial with all categories of visitors from the breathtaking view of Machu Picchu to the ruins of the Temple of the Sun Cusco bears a silent testimony to a splendid colonial past a and indigenous history. |
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