Frequently Asked Questions

The Sanisera Field School started in 1996 as a school for university students who wanted to be trained in archaeological fieldwork through the excavation of the Roman portuary city of Sanisera (Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain). In 2004, due to the continuing success of its archaeological courses, the Field School became an international reference center and started giving its courses in English for students coming from, in most of the cases, Anglo-Saxon Universities, with programs in Archaeology and Anthropology, such as those from USA, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom.

Our commitment is to promote Archeology in its different aspects of research, training, and conservation, with a basic and clear purpose: to involve anyone from around the world who wishes gain access to this scientific field.

Sanisera is an international archaeological organization whose main aim is that of promoting and developing research, so that our current and future generations can be enriched by culture and education in this field.

No. Sanisera is an international non-profit organization (NGO) devoted to the protection, conservation, research and dissemination of the Historical Heritage, which invests all its funds in order to achieve these goals. The training given to our volunteers increases their experience and also contributes to the actual scientific fieldwork and research.

Sanisera gets its funds from annual contributions from its partners and volunteers who participate in the curses run by our organization. It also receives grants from public entities from the different places where we organize our projects. And finally, to a lesser extent, Sanisera receives donations from corporations, international institutions and individuals who decide to contribute with some money of their own to help Archaeology being alive.

Sanisera, like any other organization, needs to raise funds to pay all its basic operating costs.

The historical and archaeological heritage is infinite. It needs funds for its protection and conservation. Unfortunately scientific research has very limited financial contributions, since public funds are very scarce. We need to increase the knowledge of this science through the collaboration of all members of society.
Archaeology needs funding as well as the participation of volunteers, who devote many hours of their time so that our Past can be passed down to future generations.

We are an Archaeological Field School which, year after year, expands its courses by offering students the opportunity to work and discover renown sites which present Classical Archaeology from different countries, where they can carry out their practices focused on specialized fields of knowledge that are related to their University degrees.

Courses are schedule for groups from 4 to 10 participants with a maximum length of 20 days.
We want this Field school to become a unique experience in Archaeological practice for volunteers and students willing to learn and about cultural heritage, develop new skills, challenge body and mind and meet people who share common ideas about research.

The field School offers a perfect experience for participants who study any type of university program which is related to Archaeology or Anthropology.

Students who participate in the field school can put into practice all the theoretical knowledge which has been learnt in University. There is nothing better to do in order to complement their studies than having a first-hand experience in an excavation where they can find the archaeological materials which appear in their university textbooks. It is the best way to assimilate concepts as well as complement their university degrees. In this way, the student can become a well-trained archaeologist with demonstrable experience.

The Sanisera field school is the best option if:

• You are a new college student and want to introduce yourself to this discipline. You will find out if this is the job you really want to do in the future.  

• If you have already participated in other field schools, it is important to continue your training in other excavations, so that you can compare the work carried out in them and assess their different methodologies applied to the fieldwork and the laboratory.

• If you have recently graduated from college and want to be ready for the job market.

• If you are looking for archaeological documentation in order to prepare your undergraduate final project, dissertation or thesis.

• If you just want to live a unique experience or if you have always loved archaeology as a hobby and never had the opportunity to form part of a scientific team. Any person can participate, do not hesitate.   

• If you are a professional archaeologist and want to specialize in a particular field, or if you think this can help you in getting more experience for the rest of your professional career.

• It improves your CV and helps getting recognition. Participation in a well-known Field school is an asset for institutions, universities and companies related to this scientific field.

• Updating of contents. A field school, taught by professionals, will allow you to be completely up-to-date in your field of specialization, learning the latest methodological approaches.

• Instructors. Our technical team is formed by professionals who are specialized in different fields, bringing students to their professional background and experience.

• Different types of studies adapted to the needs of the students. Our field school is completely devoted to the students’ learning. We increase their knowledge and skills in both fieldwork and laboratory. We also promote a flexible and immediate communication, we encourage effective discussion and working as part of a team. We also facilitate interaction among all participants, whether students, instructors or visiting professionals.

The Sanisera Field School is managed by scientific experts who form part of academic institutions, museums, universities and other research centers. Each of them has its own working style in their fields of expertise. Their proven experience is what guarantees that participants will be perfectly trained. They are all passionate about their research topics and their energy is easily transmitted to the group that attends our courses.

Our work is focused on the study of ancient cities, biological anthropology, amphorae & shipwrecks in underwater archaeology, how to make a movie, learning mapping tools for archaeologists focused on GIS Software and discovering the most important monuments from Ancient civilizations such as Athens and Rome.

No. All courses are given in English.

It is actually very easy and simple. Three months before your course begins, you will receive a document that includes suggestions, pieces of advice and a list of recommended readings which are useful to check out before the course starts. We also suggest you to be physically fit and open to different life-styles, customs and different food to the one you are used to.

In any case, our courses take place in safe locations, and it is very easy to get to them with local transportation. You will be given a document with maps to reach us without problems. However, if you have any incidence while you are travelling, please do not hesitate to contact our coordinator to solve any problem.

The number of participants in your group can range from 4 to 10. In any case, at the headquarters of our organization you will meet other students attending other types of courses. The maximum number of participants in the same place is 27.

Between 1996 and 2013 a total of 1,994 university students have participated in our courses.

58,8 % of the students are female whereas 41.2 % are male. Both sexes present participants with an age ranging from 18 to 26.

Most of them come from USA (62 %), Canada (18%), Australia (4%), UK (6%) and other countries around the world (10%) such as Russia, Norway, Denmark, Brazil, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Greece, Singapore, India, Japan and China. They are our guarantee.

Our school does not stop growing. In 2004 it discreetly started at an international level with the participation of 9 students and, since then, its success has not decrease: 64 (2005), 97 (2006), 118 (2007), 152 (2008), 178 (2009), 182 (2010), 198 (2011), 214 (2012).

Previous experience in fieldwork is not required and we do not assess the CVs of inexperienced students either. The remaining 20 % includes postgraduate students who have finished their studies and look for an archaeological site where they can apply and expand their knowledge about archaeological materials, inventories and excavation recording systems. All this can help them in their degree projects, dissertations or doctoral thesis.

Our field school is open to any type of research which can be carried out by a student. Collaborations can be established between our school and the student's university department.

In order to participate in The Sanisera Field School you need to turn 18 before the course starts. If you are underage, you need one of your parents to come with you, or else delegate your guardianship to the coordinator of The Sanisera Field School, who will accept to act as guardian through an administrative procedure signed by your parents upon agreement. If you are underage, our coordinator will explain everything you need to know in order to participate in our courses.

Some volunteers travel in pairs or in small groups of friends or classmates, but most of them are solo travellers who come to the Field school on their own. If you have any problem during your trip, you can contact our coordinator to help you out. In any case, we assure you that when we first start planning projects, we always make sure that the places where they will take place are located in safe towns or cities, without the risk of theft or any other type of danger. In this way, your arrival will be easy, comfortable and fast.

No. You just need to have a normal physical condition and a good health.

All participants are insured against accidents which may occur during course hours. If you get sick, our coordinator will accompany you to the nearest health center. Do not worry at all, since all ours field schools have in their vicinities high quality health centers, hospitals and doctors.

The field school plans a diet as varied as possible, which is balanced and healthy. The menu does not always conform to the taste or needs of all participants, including vegetarians or individuals allergic to certain products. For anyone who has to follow special diets, we will recommend selling points where they can find the food they need. They can keep this food in the refrigerators of the students' residencies. The scheduled daily meals won't be changed.

You must be aware that the residency will not be as comfortable as your home. However, all services that are included as well as the transportation we provide with aim at trying to make you have a comfortable stay.

Students seeking "luxury vacations" are usually not the participants of our organization.

Accommodation can be in hotels, hostels or student's residencies. Students share rooms divided by gender, for groups ranging from 2 to 6 people. Bathrooms can be private or shared with the rest of the group and they always have hot water showers. If you want to know more about your accommodation, please ask the Field school coordinator before you sign up.

If your course involves fieldwork, ie Survey or excavation, we suggest you to bring comfortable clothes with light colours. Wearing old clothes is highly recommended, since excavation clothes wear out a lot. Regarding your health, we suggest you to use gardening gloves, mosquito repellent, hat and sun cream.

Yes, of course. Generally all courses have a maximum duration of 20 days, 14 of which are devoted to fieldwork, lectures, practical and laboratory tasks and compulsory excursions. The rest of the days, 6 in total, are off so that you can relax, discover the place or participate in activities with the rest of the group.

Moreover, during working days, you will have enough free time after lunch in order to rest, schedule short trips to interesting places like beaches and archaeological sites, walk around the historical center where you will live or go shopping.

During your free time, and every time you want to leave the residence for a certain period of time, you will have to let the coordinator know where you are going to and when you expect to return. For us it is very important to know this for your own safety. Even though our courses take place in very safe places, we have to be ready for any emergency that can happen.

On the last day of the course, the instructors will give you an opinion form so that you can assess the development of the course in its different aspects. Your opinion is very important to us. Your comments and tips will allow us to gradually overcome our weak spots and improve our courses by increasing their efficiency and quality.

Sanisera is a non-profit organization. All revenues that we obtained from different sources throughout the year, including your course fees, are used to cover our organization's costs. The remaining profit is reinvested in the scientific research carried out by each of our projects' researchers.
Your contribution, apart from covering the cost of your course, will partially help in our scientific work in its different aspects: conservation, dissemination, preservation and study.

None of our courses include airfare from your place of origin to your destination. Exceptionally, some of our courses will be taught in 2 countries. In this case, when students have to travel during the course, transportation will be provided by our organization. For example, if a student is participating in a course that will start in Greece and, after a week, he has to travel to Italy, the flight and the rest of the public transportation services will be covered by our organization.

Our organization does not cover expenses resulting from charges due to bank transfers made by the participant. Our coordinator will inform you about this issue before you sign up.
We do not cover applications for passports, visas or vaccinations either. However, an accident insurance is included in the registration fee, which is valid during the time you will live in the place where the course takes place.

The course prices depend on several factors. There are tourist towns with prices that rise and fall depending on when the peak season takes place. This usually happens in the summer season, when population grows and prices increase. However, during spring and autumn time general prices fall, which makes easier to decrease the prices of our courses.

Moreover, some courses are cheaper than others. It is not the same to participate in a land archaeology course than in an underwater archaeology one, where students dive every day along with professional divers. These courses are more costly because the risk is higher and more materials are needed, such as fuel, additional infrastructure and boats.

In our course page you will find all our courses. In November the information will be updated and you can contact our coordinator if you have any doubt.

There are several ways to do it and all of them are easy. In our website you can fill out a registration form, specifying the courses you are interested in and the dates when you want to participate. You can also send an e-mail to our coordinator in order to get more information or you can call him directly.
If you contact us, we will contact you in less than 48 hours to inform you about availability and how to sign up by following very easy and quick guidelines given by our coordinator.

To make the payment process easy, registration fees for our courses are conducted in US dollars and by bank transfer. Our coordinator will send you a document explaining how you can do it.

You have to plan your own journey. If you ask our coordinator, he will recommend you cheap flights, ferries, hotels and any other thing you need to know in order to plan your journey so that you can reach your destination without problems.

Our coordinator will send you a document that includes a street map in order to find the meeting place on the first day of the course. Moreover, we will give you a telephone number in case your flight is delayed or you have any other incidence or query.

Upon arrival at the meeting place, you will be welcomed by one of our team members, who will tell you how and when to join the rest of the group. The meeting place can be a specific point in the airport or the hostel, hotel or residency, depending on the course's schedule.

If you have more questions, which have not been answered in this section of our website, please contact our coordinator via email info@archaeology.institute