Archaeology in Romania with Projects Abroad

  Romania

• Other Cities in Romania: 
Brasov

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All Year Round (you set the start and end date); Digs available April through September

Description: Come work on ruins in Romania!

In Romania, volunteers are based in Brasov, whose storied past is quickly evident by a quick walk around town. The city 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.

Volunteers are working with the History Museum of Brasov to investigate ancient Dacia and the medieval environs of Transylvania. Archaeological sites found in the Carpathian Mountains and plains below have already yielded some remarkable information about the time of the infamous Vlad the Impaler, the "supposed" inspiration for Dracula.

You will have the opportunity to carry out fieldwork - either working on digs during the summer or assessing sites like the Saxon fortified churches that dot the country side around Brasov, and assisting with restoration work during the winter.

Alongside the practical work, you will write up documents and reports concerning the work you are doing, and proposals for new sites in the area, which can be presented to potential national and international donors. You will spend some time based at the History Museum of Brasov, helping to update the literature and produce documents that will encourage tourism at the archaeological sites.

This placement is also available as a two-week summer special for high school students between the ages of 16 and 19.

Highlights: Romania is an amazing country. The Carpathian Mountains covered in pine forests are its spine. The hills and plains of the three historical provinces, Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania, emerge from these mountains. The Southern border is defined by the Danube. The Danube Delta, an exotic paradise for birds and fish, lies in the small Romanian province of Dobrogea, which has 150 miles of coast on the Black Sea.

The people who live in this country, Romanians, share their world with Hungarians, Saxons, Gypsies, Turks, Tatars, Armenians, Jews, Russians and Serbs. The Romanians themselves never forget that they are the Latin people of Orient, descendents of the ancient Dacians.

All accommodation is organized, paid for, and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Moldova.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: None.

Cost in US$: From USD 2,445 and up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range: 16-70

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Romania Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992