International Master in Quaternary and Prehistory

Abric Romaní is a key Middle Paleolithic archaeological site located in Capellades, northeastern Spain. It preserves an exceptional stratigraphic sequence dated between 40,000 and 110,000 years ago, associated with Neanderthal occupations. The site is renowned for its outstanding preservation of hearths, wooden remains, faunal assemblages, and lithic tools. These findings provide unique insights into Neanderthal behavior, including spatial organization, subsistence strategies, and technological skills. The repeated and well-structured occupations at Abric Romaní reveal a high level of social and cognitive complexity. Ongoing multidisciplinary research, including annual excavations conducted each August, continues to shed light on Neanderthal lifeways during the Late Pleistocene.

Directors: Palmira Saladié, Josep Vallverdú & M. Gema Chacón

Fieldwork season: August

Those interested in participating should send an email including their CV starting in March to the responsible for the list of participants:

M. Gema Chacón. IPHES-CERCA (Tarragona, Spain) mail: gchacon@iphes.cat

The first scientific/archaeological investigations of the deposits date back to 1953 when C. Conti conducted an initial survey inside the Ciota Ciara cave. In 1964, G. Isetti carried out a survey in the atrial area, which revealed a lithic industry dating to the Middle Paleolithic. In 1966, F. Fedele and F. Strobino, with the help of the G.A.S.B., conducted the first systematic excavation inside the cave. In 2009, research was resumed by the University of Ferrara under the concession of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.

Director: Marta Arzarello (marta.arzarello@unife.it) in collaboration with Julie Arnaud, Sara Daffara e Gabriele Berruti

Internet site: https://sites.google.com/a/unife.it/grotta-della-ciota-ciara/

CAMPAIGN 2025 - 28 May- 20 June

Excavation Registration Form (send a copy of the completed form to marta.arzarello@unife.it):

 https://forms.gle/VZV5P95orD2LwmQq8

Il Landro is a rock shelter located on the northern edge of the Cansiglio Plateau (Municipality of Tambre, BL) at an altitude of about 1050 m a.s.l. The site, discovered in 2017, features a complex stratigraphic sequence primarily dating to the Recent Epigravettian and has yielded a large number of lithic artifacts, bone remains, and charcoal. In 2025, activities will continue with the excavation of the older layers, dating to the Early Part of the Late Glacial.

Director: Davide Visentin

Info  excavation 2025 - davide.visentin@unife.it

The Pirro Nord site represents the first evidence of the arrival of humans in Europe around 1.6-1.3 million years ago. The lithic artifacts, associated with faunas from the final Villafranchian (Pirro Nord faunal unit), were found within a crack filled with Lower Pleistocene sediments. The lithic artifacts have allowed for the definition of the subsistence strategies adopted by the first humans who colonized Europe: short operational chains, using locally sourced raw materials (mainly flint), primarily aimed at obtaining flakes.

Director: Marta Arzarello (marta.arzarello@unife.it) in collaboration with Julie Arnaud, Sara Daffara e Gabriele Berruti

Excvation 2025: 28 July- 22 August

Information about participation: marta.arzarello@unife.it

Table Cave is an archaeological site associated with Holocene hunter-gatherer groups and perhaps the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Archaeological sites in the region date back more than 12,000 years. The site has rock art in the form of graphics (perforated, scratched, etc.) and monochromatic paintings (especially in red and associated tones).  The objectives of the excavations are to delimit the periods of occupation of the cave; make associations with other nearby sites located in the Templo dos Pilares Municipal Park; obtain paint samples in the excavations; Perform analyses of paleo-climate, paleo diet and transformations in material culture throughout the period of occupation. The activities are developed by the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, under the coordination of Professor Lia Brambilla in the Rock Trail Program.    https://trilharupestre.ufms.br/

Director: Lia Brambilla and André Soares , lia.gasques@ufms.br e   andre.soares@ufsm.br

Information on how to apply for participation: send an email to andre.soares@ufsm.br

We can receive up to 5 graduate students per campaign. Next stage of the field between July 18 and 28, 2025.

The research, integrated into the MEDICE II project, aims to study the sociocultural dynamics of the central region of Portugal, with a focus on the recent Prehistory, particularly in a cave that presents significant evidence of human occupation. The study will analyze ritual practices and deposition, as well as investigate the interactions between indigenous groups and external influences that shaped prehistoric societies, relating both caves and megalithic monuments. The project also includes actions aimed at the management and preservation of cultural heritage, adopting an integrated approach that connects scientific work with the local community. Activities with the community are planned, and all participants in the project must take part. The archaeological work, which primarily involves the clearing of the main chamber and excavation in the open area of the interior space of the main galleries, will take place between July 14th and 31st, with arrival expected on Sunday, between 3pm and 7pm. The work will take place alongside the Anta da Azurrague. Fieldwork will be carried out from 9am to 5pm, followed by laboratory work at the camp set up near the cave. In addition to the excavations, an international seminar will be held on July 19th, open to the local community. The excavations will make use of advanced technologies, such as total station, LiDAR, and Photogrammetry. 

Director: Alexandra Figueiredo e Cláudio Monteiro

Participants will be accommodated in local dormitories, and meals will be provided at the dormitory facilities. More information will be sent by email, and registration is mandatory by email alexfiga@ipt.pt. For more details, visit https://www.caaportugal.pt/about-1.

Contact: alexfiga@ipt.pt 

Dates: 13 - 31 July (arrive: 13 July)

For the past fifteen years, annual excavation and archaeological survey campaigns have been conducted in the northwest of the Erongo Granite Massive in Central Namibia as part of a cooperation between the MNHN, the National Museum of Namibia, and the National Heritage Council of Namibia. Several sites have been the subject of planned excavations and studies, providing insights into population dynamics in southern Africa since the very end of the Pleistocene. Currently, we are focusing on the decorated shelter of Seal Rock Shelter, where we are excavating an extensive Later Stone Age occupation sequence over 1.5 meters thick. This work aims to particularly contextualize the rock paintings and the introduction of pastoral activities. The excavation will take place in the fall of 2025 (September–October) and can only accommodate a limited number of participants.

Info : David Pleurdeau (david.pleurdeau@mnhn.fr)

The excavation of the Uruguai 1 site is part of the Franco-Brazilian Archaeological Program of Southern Brazil (PAFSUB) and the project Prehistoric Settlements of the Upper Uruguay River Valley (POPARU). It has been ongoing since 2015 under the direction of Antoine Lourdeau (National Museum of Natural History), Mirian Carbonera (Unochapecó), and Marcos César Pereira Santos (Federal University of Pelotas). This is an open-air site located on the banks of the river, featuring a long stratigraphy ranging from 12,000 years ago to the 15th century CE. With the exception of the most recent occupation—where ceramics, associated with the Tupiguarani archaeological unit, predominate—the archaeological layers mainly consist of lithic remains, indicating a high degree of technical variability throughout the Holocene.

More information: https://pafsub.wixsite.com/my-site

The excavation takes place annually in the spring, between April and May. The team for the 2025 campaign is already full. Applications for the 2026 campaign will open at the end of 2025.

The Coupe-Gorge Cave is located in the commune of Montmaurin, near Lespugue, in the Petites Pyrénées, Haute-Garonne. The excavation level currently under investigation is dated to approximately 160,000 years ago. It has yielded animal bone remains, Mousterian lithic industries, and (occasionally) Neanderthal human remains.

Due to the limited excavation surface and the significant post-excavation activities (washing of archaeological objects, sediment sieving, sorting of sieve residues) carried out in parallel, participants should expect to divide their time between these tasks. Additionally, involvement in scientific outreach activities (participatory workshops, open-house events at the cave, etc.) may be required.

Dates: August 3–15 or August 17–30, 2025

Access: Saint-Gaudens train station

Accommodation: In a gîte in Larroque

Contact: amelie.vialet@mnhn.fr 

Online publications:

https://books.openedition.org/cths/5352

https://journal.uispp.org/published-issues/volume-2-2-september-2019/vialet_et_al_uispp_journal_2-2_2019

Toll and Teixoneres caves, near Moià (Barcelona, Spain), are important sites for studying the Pleistocene in Catalonia. Formed in Neogene limestone, they preserve a rich stratigraphic sequence from the late Middle to Upper Pleistocene. These caves show alternating occupations by Neanderthals and carnivores such as cave bears, hyenas, and various medium and small predators. Archaeological evidence, including stone tools, hearths, and bones modified by both humans and carnivores, reflects this dynamic pattern of use. Ongoing multidisciplinary research at the site continues to shed light on the complex interactions between humans and animals and their adaptations during the Pleistocene.

Directors: Jordi Rosell, Ruth Blasco, Florent Rivals & Anna Rufà

Fieldwork season: 1 month, between June and July (in a single shift)

The list of volunteers for the 2025 field season has already been completed.

Those interested in participating in future seasons should send an email, including their CV and motivation for joining, starting in mid-February to Anna Rufà: arufabonache@gmail.com. 

Please note that there are usually only a limited number of vacancies available for volunteers. Selection will be based on the CV and the motivation statement provided.

The Barranc de la Boella site is located in La Canonja (Tarragona), about 5 km from the Mediterranean Sea and 50 meters above sea level. During the Early Pleistocene, it was part of the fluvial terrace system of the Francolí River, in a landscape of alluvial plains with open vegetation. Dated between 1 million and 780,000 years ago, it stands out as one of the oldest sites in Europe with Acheulean technology. Large cutting tools such as picks, cleavers, and chopping tools have been found, along with remains of mammoths (Mammuthus meridionalis), rhinoceroses (Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis), hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus antiquus), fallow deer (Dama cf. vallonetensis), giant deer (Megaloceros savini), and sabre-toothed cats (Homotherium latidens). These findings provide evidence of early and advanced human occupation in the region.

DIRECTORS: Josep Vallverdú Poch (jvallverdu@iphes.cat); Palmira Saladié Ballesté (psaladie@iphes.cat) 

Information on how to apply for participation:  Send CV and statement of interest by email to Palmira Saladié. No experience required.  he excavation takes place in September, divided into two shifts. Accommodation and meals are covered if needed

The site of Prà Comun (PC1) is located beneath a rocky boulder in the Passo Giau area, at the foot of Col Piombin (Municipality of San Vito di Cadore, BL), at an altitude of approximately 2000 m a.s.l. Investigated since 2019, it features a stratigraphic sequence characterized by two main settlement phases: the first dating to the Late Antiquity-Early Middle Ages, and the second to the Early Mesolithic. Extensive excavations, initiated in 2020, have focused on the eastern side of the boulder. The 2025 excavation campaign will take place from June 30 to July 26.

Director of the excvation: Federica Fontana (federica.fontana@unife.it), in collaboration with Davide Visentin (davide.visentin@unife.it), Nicolò Fasser (nicolo.fasser@unife.it) and Fabio Cavulli (Università di Napoli Federico II).

If you want to pariticipate: fill the form

The research (MEDICE II PROJECT) aims to analyze the sociocultural dynamics of the central region of Portugal, from Prehistory to the Classical Period, with an emphasis on ritual practices of deposition and cults, as well as understanding the assimilation of external influences and the interactions between indigenous and foreign groups. The project also includes a set of actions aimed at the research and management of cultural heritage, adopting an integrated approach that articulates the scientific and community dimensions, promoting the connection between current heritage and the territory, from a perspective of sustainable cultural management and the appreciation of historical heritage. The megalithic monument being investigated presents osteological remains and materials, both lithic and ceramic, and the excavations will take place between July 14th and 31st, with arrival expected on Sunday, between 3pm and 7pm. Fieldwork will be carried out daily from 9am to 5pm, followed by laboratory work at the camp set up in the dormitory area. In addition to the excavations, an international seminar is scheduled for July 19th, aimed at the local community. The excavations are supported by new technologies, such as the use of total station, LiDAR, and Photogrammetry. 

Participants will be accommodated in local dormitories. Food is provided in the dormitories. Further information will be sent via email, and registration is mandatory through the email alexfiga@ipt.pt.

Contact: alexfiga@ipt.pt 

Director: Alexandra Figueiredo e Cláudio Monteiro

Dates: 13 - 31 July (arrive: 13 July)

Vale do Junco is known to be a Roman site, with private baths, which started to be excavated in 1943. Later fieldworks by Rogério Carvalho, in 1986, discovered a forge for production of iron tools. By this time it was thought that the site was abandoned in the 5th century AD, after a brief barbarian occupation. A four years project that started in 2022 carried out new excavations, discovering a Visigoth structure and pottery of the same period, plus more recent Islamic ceramics. Also several Roman walls were unearthed. In deeper archaeological layers two flint blades of prehistoric type were found, together with fragments of the same raw material. 

Director: Fernando Coimbra

Contacts: Fernando Coimbra, coimbra.rockart@yahoo.com  (apply for participation)  

Next excavation campaign: 19th of May – 6th of June