Cyprus

Cyprus - Investigating late bronze age urban landscapes

CNRS 335 or CNRS 535 | 3 Credits

About the program

About the course

This course is led by UBC faculty member Kevin Fisher.

This archaeological field school will take place in Kalavasos and the surrounding area, Larnaka District, Republic of Cyprus.  

The main objective of this course is to train you in the principles and methods of field archaeology as practiced in the Mediterranean and Near East today so that you can work as a skilled field archaeologist on other projects.  A secondary, but still important, the objective is for students to gain an understanding of Cypriot material culture and how it is used to illuminate past behaviour and the rise and development of civilization on the island. By living in a small Greek-Cypriot village, you will also gain an appreciation of both modern and traditional aspects of Cypriot culture and social life.

Students will work as members of the Kalavasos and Maroni Built Environments (KAMBE) Project, which is investigating the relationship between urban landscapes, social interaction, and social change on the island of Cyprus during the Late Bronze Age (c. 1650–1100 BCE).  They will be involved in two main components of the project, focused on the urban centre of Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios:

  • excavations in the Northeast Area of the site, including the newly-discovered monumental Building XVI; and
  • geophysical survey using ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, and electromagnetic conductivity, aimed at the high resolution mapping of the site’s buried remains.

Various areas of this site were the subject of archaeological excavation from 1979–1998, which recovered tantalizing glimpses of a thriving Late Bronze Age urban centre, including monumental buildings, wealthy tombs, and domestic architecture.  Since 2008 the KAMBE Project has been trying to understand how these individual excavation areas were woven together into an urban fabric.  The project uses a combination of remote sensing (including geophysics, drone-based aerial survey, photogrammetry, and 3D laser scanning) and excavation to investigate how the urban landscape shaped new patterns of social interaction at this critical time in the Cypriot past

About the experience 

The course objectives will be met through intensive, “hands-on” participation in all aspects of archaeological fieldwork.  This work will include:

  • data collection through excavation and geophysical survey;
  • recording of archaeological contexts and finds using a new ‘paperless’ 3D digital recording system based on photogrammetry, GPS and laser scanning, as well as more conventional methods;
  • cleaning, processing, and classifying of finds.

In addition to participating in fieldwork, you will attend a series of lectures on archaeological method and theory and Cypriot archaeology by project staff and other visiting scholars.  You will also visit (and give presentations on) important archaeological and cultural sites and museums throughout the island. In late June, you will attend the annual Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute (CAARI) workshop in Nicosia, during which archaeologists working the island present the results of their work.  In addition to learning about the island’s archaeology, this is an excellent opportunity for you to network and meet other students from around the world.

A typical day might include:

  • Several hours of field work
  • Lectures
  • Excursions and site visits

Notable environmental conditions

  • Heat/sunstroke and dehydration are possible, particularly during fieldwork and largely due to working in inappropriate clothing and failure to drink sufficient amounts of water.
  • Lots of physical labour, digging, lifting, crouching, using equipment

Accommodation 

You will stay in shared accommodations in apartments in the village of Kalavasos (about a 5-minute drive from the site). These are traditional village courtyard houses that have been renovated and updated with modern conveniences, including air conditioning. Each has a kitchen and full bathroom with shower and will house 4 or 5 students.  We eat lunch and dinner at local tavernas which serve traditional Greek food

Eligibility requirements

General Global Seminar requirements

  • You must have at least a 70% average in your most recent Winter Session of full-time studies prior to application
  • You need to be a UBC student in good standing (e.g., not be under academic or non-academic discipline) to participate in a Global Seminar
  • You should have full-time student status (as defined by your faculty) in the year prior to your Global Seminar
  • You must maintain 70% average prior to your Global Seminar departure
  • You must have completed or intend to complete the necessary (or equivalent) pre-requisite courses prior to Global Seminar start date
  • Unclassified students will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • You will need to be accepted by the Program Director leading the Global Seminar

Program-specific requirements

  • Open to students in Classical, Near Eastern & Religious Studies, Anthropology, Art History, History. 
  • CNERS students can receive a maximum of 6 credits for CNERS 335.
  • CNERS MA students can receive a maximum of 3 credits for CNERS 535.  
  • Please contact the CNERS advising office if you are unsure whether or not you can receive credit for this Global Seminar.  

General timelines

The program will take place in Kalavasos and the surrounding area, Cyprus from late May to late June, 2021.  

Prior to your time in the field, you will be required to attend pre-departure sessions in Vancouver.  

Program dates: Exact dates TBD

How to apply

  • Log in to the Gateway online application program
  • Select “Search Experiences” and type "VGS" to explore Global Seminars programs
  • Upload the application form for your selected Global Seminar – see Application documents below

You can apply for up to a maximum of 2 Global Seminars.

Students are encouraged to meet with the Program Director at an orientation session or one-on-one to learn more about the program.

Application deadline

Monday, February 22, 2021

Program fees and costs

CAD approx $3,300 -$3,500 + tuition and flight.

The program fee includes Accommodation, Program-related travel, and excursions (once in Cyprus) and the Go Global fee.  Participants are responsible for tuition, Flights, visas and 

Incidentals

The final fee depends on the number of students in the program. Students do not pay the Go Global fee when applying to a Global Seminar. The Go Global fee is built into the Program Fee and is payable after acceptance into the program.  Students will not be charged any fees until programs have been confirmed. 

All qualifying students will receive a $1000 Go Global Award. 

UBC understands the value and impact, that international programs can have on a students’ academic experience. The university also acknowledges the unpredictable nature of planning international programs during a global pandemic.  To learn more about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Go Global Programs, please visit the Go Global student FAQ during COVID-19. 

Accessibility

If you are considering applying for a Go Global program and identify with having a disability or pre-existing health condition (mental or physical) which could impact your participation, or if you require academic accommodations, you can contact the following offices and meet with an Accessibility Advisor before the start of the program:

Pre-departure Policy

Safety abroad

UBC is committed to preparing students for safe and successful international experiences. In order to achieve this, any student participating in a Go Global Program must complete the following:

  • All UBC Student Safety Abroad requirements
  • Go Global Program-specific pre-departure requirements (includes both online and in-person components)

Failure to successfully complete these and any other requirements may result in withdrawal from the Go Global Program.

Contact

Global Seminars Advisor

Student Advising

Drop in advising - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00-3:00pm

Please email go.global@ubc.ca with your student number in the subject line.

Global Seminars Advisor

go.global@ubc.ca

Telephone: 604 822 0942

Fax: 604 822 9885

UBC Life Building
6138 Student Union Blvd
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Canada

View map

Hours

Mon
9:00 am - 4:15 pm
Tue
9:00 am - 4:15 pm
Wed
9:00 am - 4:15 pm
Thu
9:00 am - 4:15 pm
Fri
9:00 am - 4:15 pm
Sat
Closed
Sun
Closed
skip to content

On this page

Back to top