Project directors Drs Michael Boyd, Evi Margaritis and Demetris Athanasoulis welcome everyone interested to apply for the Keros field school in spring 2025.

 

The Cycladic Field School in 2025 represents a unique opportunity to learn new skills and confront the material reality of the past one of the most important prehistoric excavations currently being undertaken in the world. The sites of Keros and Dhaskalio have recently been identified as the world’s earliest maritime sanctuary, and it is solving for us the mystery of how the famous Cycladic marble figurines were used and understood in the Early Bronze Age. It turns out that most of those made eventually ended up taking part in the rituals on Keros, which drew in participants from around the Cyclades. This degree of ideological interconnectivity has rarely been documented at such an early stage of the past.

 

On our excavation you will receive expert guidance on all matters of Cycladic archaeology and in the practical skills of how to undertake excavation. You will be digging, under the expert supervision of your area supervisor and of the leader of the Field School, Dr Vana Orfanou. Moreover, we will be using a raft of scientific and specialist techniques on the project. You will receive training on how to use these techniques in the field, and the specialists will all be contributing to our field school with lessons on their specialisms.

 

The Field School represents a unique opportunity for those pursuing a career in archaeology, and for those interested in developing their skills. We are expecting a lot of applicants, so best apply before all spaces are filled! We will be staying on the idyllic Cycladic island of Kouphonisi, a 20 minute boat journey to the island of Keros, which we will be taking each morning.

 

We are excited to be going back to Keros for a new excavation campaign. We welcome everyone interested to join us and be part of our exciting journey of the exploration of the Aegean past.