On the Expedition

Help excavate this 11th century castle, and explore the site for pottery shards and remains.

Working under the Tuscan sun, you'll help with excavating the site, sorting the finds, washing pottery shards, labeling finds, and working on gluing and restoration of pottery finds. The work site will be shaded, as the sun can get hot in the summer, even in this comfortable, Mediterranean climate. The site is located on the top of a hill, where you will have amazing views of the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Teams will generally divide into two groups, alternating between working at the dig site and helping with laboratory tasks of organizing, washing, labeling, counting, and matching artifacts. The site will be documented through photography, videography, and drawings, so any expertise you have in these will be put to good use. In your recreational time, you'll be able to take short excursions to the area's many historical sites and attractions.

Meals and Accommodations

Volunteers will stay at an “Agriturismo” called “Il Pino”, located a five minute walk from the excavation site. Agriturismos are a recent kind of country hotel in which the old agricultural outbuildings of a farm have been restored and transformed into apartments. Each apartment consists of a kitchen and living area, a bath, and a bedroom with a double bed and a bedroom with two single beds. The apartments are new and very attractively furnished and most of them have a beautiful view overlooking the olive groves and vineyards of the Elsa valley. The agriturism has a swimming pool, so be sure to bring your swimsuit!

Continental breakfasts will be enjoyed at the agriturism. The City of Gambassi Terme will provide lunches of sandwiches and pasta salad and enjoyed picnic style a the dig site. Dinners will be traditionally Tuscan both in fare and in length! You'll linger over delicious three-course meals especially prepared for the team by a local cook, including soup, pasta, meat and vegetable courses, and, of course, local wines.

About the Research Area

The area of research is one of the most famous landscapes in Tuscany and Italy. Very rich in art and cultural items, counts important sites like San Gimignano, Colle val d'Elsa, Certaldo, Volterra, San Miniato. Not far are Siena and Florance and Pisa. Many towns are easily reachable also with train and buses. The Mediterranean coast is only at 50 km from the area of research and easy to reach.