Antiochia ad Cragum (Turkey)
June 15 – July 12 and July 14 – August 13, 2024
other
Dig Roman Turkey
The Roman–era city of Antiochia ad Cragum is located on the south-central coast of Turkey in ancient Rough Cilicia, roughly north of Cyprus. Historically, the site of Antiochia ad Cragum with its harbor possibly served as one of the havens for the famed Cilician pirates who operated from these shores and preyed upon shipping and coastal communities of the eastern Mediterranean during the first half of the first century BCE. The Roman general Pompey ended the pirate scourge in 67 BCE with a naval victory at nearby Korakesion (Alanya). No traces of Antiochia’s pirate past survive among the remains visible today. The emperor Caligula ceded control of Rough Cilicia to a client-king of Rome, Antiochos IV of Commagene, for a brief period in AD 38 before summarily deposing him; Antiochus was then restored to power in AD 41 by Claudius. He ruled continuously until AD 72, during which period he founded the city named after himself. After his removal by Vespasian in 72, the city, along with the rest of Rough Cilicia, fell under direct Roman rule as part of the enlarged Province of Cilicia. The city appears to have reached its greatest extent during the later Roman Empire, from the third century on. It is this period that the current excavations are exploring.
Field school participants will be introduced to the basics of field archaeology. They will learn proper excavation techniques, archaeological survey, principles of field conservation, record keeping, site management, and archaeological surveying. Opportunities for field trips to nearby archaeological sites, such as Selinus, Lamos, Perge, Anamur, Alanya, and the Alanya Museum will be arranged.
The excavation runs on a Monday-Friday schedule. Typically, they depart for the site at 5:30 AM and enjoy a group breakfast at the site. Work begins at 6:30 and continues until 1 PM. There is mid-morning tea break at 10:00. Lunch is served at 1:00, also at the site. Post-lunch activities usually involve ceramics cleaning and sorting, and report writing. At least once a week there is an organized swimming event to the nearby “private cove.” Dinners are provided in the Gazipaşan excavation house at approximately 7:00 PM. All meals are typical Turkish fare with an accent on fresh and homemade foods. No meals are provided on Sundays. Excursions to nearby sites or museums will occur during the weekends. These sites include Selinus, Anemurium, Perge, Aspendos, Side, Alanya, and Lamos. They also have a lecture series with lectures in the auditorium by project members and sometimes guest lecturers.
Details
Geographic Location
South Mediterranean Coast, Turkey
Dates of the Dig
June 15 – July 12 and July 14 – August 13, 2024
Minimum Stay
2 Weeks
Application Due
Friday, March 1, 2024
Academic Credit/Cost per Credit/Institution
3 credits are offered by the University of Nebraska. Resident undergraduate tuition: $268 per credit hour plus fees; Non-resident: $859 per credit hour plus fees; Resident Graduate tuition: $353 per credit hour plus fees; non-resident: $1031 per credit hour plus fees.
Accommodations
Students are housed in a dormitory, approximately 4–6 students per room. Each room is equipped with In suite bathrooms. Single rooms might be available at an additional cost of approximately $15 per night (actual cost will not be known until Spring 2024).
Cost
Directors
Professor Michael Hoff: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Professor Rhys Townsend: Clark University
Professor Ece Erdogmus: Georgia Institute of Technology
Professor Birol Can: Usak University
Professor Tim Howe: St. Olaf College
Professor Asena Kizilarslanoglu: Kastamonu University
