European Archaeology Skills Exchange (EASE) - 2008

European Archaeology Skills Exchange - EASE 2008

Grampus began promoting the Leonardo da Vinci project 'Excavation Centred Training in European Archaeology' (ECTEA) in 2000. This very successful project, written and managed by Grampus and funded by the Leonardo programme, enabled us to fund over 80 archaeology students from the UK to join a range of excavations across Europe.

In 2003, encouraged by the success of the ECTEA project, Grampus and our European archaeology partners designed and submitted the EASE project. Thanks to funding from the EU Leonardo da Vinci programme, we have been able to offer practical placements for UK archaeology students and graduates to join archaeological projects across Europe since 2000. The EASE 2008 placements will again take place during the summer break to ensure that as many students as possible have the option of taking part.

Archaeology undergraduates from across the UK are welcome to apply by completing the application form and returning it by post to Grampus. Please read and complete the application carefully. There is no strict deadline for submitting applications for this project. We are receiving applications for these placements now and we review these and allocate places to successful applicants on a regular basis. The website will be updated as placements are filled. Why not e.mail us to express your interest or call us on 016973 21516 to discuss the availability of placements.

The funding for this project will cover travel (return from a major UK airport designated by Grampus), insurance and accommodation (basic and arranged by host partners). Participants will usually be expected to buy their own food on a self-catering basis. The flights and insurance are booked by Grampus in the UK and tickets are then posted out to participants. Where participants are travelling from Northern Ireland, Grampus will endeavour to arrange the necessary connecting flights.

All applicants should be aware that they are joining excavations planned and managed by organisations in the host country. The EASE placements offer a 'real-work environment' experience, with the necessary guidance and supervision provided by the host partners. Applicants should be aware that approaches to archaeological research and excavation do vary across Europe and all participants should therefore expect to experience differences in methodology and techniques. Participants are expected to become part of a team and to ultimately make a meaningful contribution to the host project.

In addition to the archaeological work and experience, participants will have the opportunity to carry out cultural visits and will have free evenings and weekends to gain a broader experience of the host country and culture.

We welcome applications from students with little or no previous experience of archaeological excavation. All applicants should be aware that these placements involve a degree of physical work! Also, all participants must complete a report on their experience, which should be submitted to Grampus after returning to the UK. In some cases, this report could be combined with the production of evidence to assist in the accreditation process from UK universities.

All participants in the EASE project are automatically registered for the 'Europass' record of achievement document.

EASE Placements at a glance:

E.mail us or call 016973 21516 for current information.

Portugal: FULL 6th July to 9th August 2008.This is a brand new opportunity for undergraduates to join an exciting excavation at the site of Castanheiro do Vento (Northeastern Portugal). The site bears a complex stone architecture and was built during the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age Periods.

Finland: FULL 30th June to 10th August 2008: An exciting opportunity for undergraduates to join the Stone Age excavations at Kierikki!

Slovakia: FULL 13th July to 24th August 2008: Medieval Monastery excavation in the Slovak / Hungarian border town of Sahy. 2006 will be our fourth year of sending UK students to this exciting excavation

Latvia: FULL 6th July to 17th August 2008: Excavation of the medieval Cesis castle. Hosted by the Ezerpils museum apx 1 hour from Riga. This was a very successful excavation placement in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Germany: 6th July to 17th August 2008: Work experience with the Landesamt fur Archaeologie Sachsen Anhalt. Since 2002 our students have worked on the internationally important excavations in the centre of the historic city of Magdeburg. This placement will develop an understanding of state funded archaeology in Germany and of excavations in the urban environment.

Sweden: FULL- 7th June to 18th July 2008: 6 weeks of excavation on the island of Gotland hosted and arranged by Gotland University. The 6-week placement should provide participants with a good understanding of Nordic archaeology.

All placements involve a group of at least four students from the UK travelling together. All EASE placements are six weeks in duration and will be timed to coincide with the 2008 summer holidays.

You can apply now for all of these placements!

NOTE: Participants on all of our placements will now require a European Health Insurance CARD (EHIC). CLICK HERE to visit the external website and apply for your EHIC online.