Tombs from Excavation to Digital Publication. The Crustumerium Publication Project

Course content
Of all archaeological contexts, tombs have historically received the most attention. This is not surprising  as tombs, when intact, are most times closed contexts, implying that the grave content was deposited at a fixed moment in time. Metal, ceramic and other objects from tombs were  from early on in the history of archaeology greatly valued by archaeologists to delineate cultural horizons. For Iron age South Lazio, this resulted in the late 1970’s in the famous and nowadays still used Latial periodization I to IVB, a typo-chronological framework describing the development of Latial culture between 1000 BCE and 580 CE.  In the seminal  publication `La Formazione della città nel Lazio` the social changes that characterized  the urban transition were based on grave contexts pertaining to the various Latial periods. The publication showed how grave inventories have a lot to tell about the social structure of contemporary society. This was eminently illustrated by Anna-Maria Bietti Sestieri when she in 1992 published the Iron Age cemetery of Osteria dell’ Osa belonging to the Latin city of Gabii and reconstructed changes in the social makeup of the community living there. Since that publication, there has been substantial theoretical and methodological discussions on excavation methodology and the study of tombs, human remains and artefacts resulting in a multidisciplinary approach now referred to as funerary or mortuary archaeology. In that same period South Lazio saw many emergency excavations of Iron Age cemeteries that on account of  urbanization and/or  looting by grave robbers were endangered, but lack of funding stood in the way of publishing excavated cemeteries. Crustumerium is one of those settlements whose cemeteries await full publication.

In this course students will work on the publication of the architecture, human deposition(s) and  inventories of tombs from the large Monte Del Bufalo cemetery excavated at Crustumerium, an Iron Age to Archaic Latin settlement located on the Tiber at a short distance northwest of Rome. The settlement was founded in the mid-9^th c. BCE and abandoned in the early 5^th c. BCE. (see map). At Crustumerium the Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma and the University of Groningen have collaborated in many excavation seasons in bringing to light tombs with a date range between Latial periods IIB (mid-9^th c. BCE) to the end of the Archaic period (480 BCE).  This long period comprises the so-called Orientalizing period (730-580 BCE), in which potters at Crustumerium started to produce very characteristic ceramic shapes (see figure at the top). In the course students will become familiar with tomb typology, ways of deposition of the human body, disposition of artefacts in the grave and artefact typologies. They will be able to document and study ceramic objects in the KNIR’s laboratory. To learn the steps it takes from Excavation to Publication, students will learn to work according to a set protocol supervised by specialists. The practical work in the laboratory will be alternated with lectures and site and museum visits.

Course language
English

Staff
Prof. dr. Peter Attema (University of Groningen)
Dr. Barbara Belelli Marchesini (Sapienza University Rome)
Renée Carlien de Vries, MA (Groningen University Museum)
Siebe Boersma, BA (University of Groningen)

General course objectives
“Tombs from Excavation to Publication, the Crustumerium Publication Project” is an intensive course on location in Rome at the Royal Netherlands Institute for which students are selected on the basis of prior study results and a letter of motivation. In these respects, the KNIR didactical practice distinguishes itself from the regular academic teaching at Dutch universities. Participating students will be evaluated on their capacity to familiarise themselves with and understand the course materials in an autonomous way, and their active participation during group work and discussions

Credits
The workload of the intensive course is 5 ECTS (140 hours). Students should arrange with their university coordinator whether the course can be a part of their existing curriculum. After successful completion of the course, the KNIR provides a certificate mentioning study load and grade.

Students new to Crustumerium will in the first place learn to describe and document tombs and their inventories. Experienced Crustumerium students will foremost work on the actual publication of tombs to be uploaded onto the Crustumerium Burial Grounds Publication Forum. Study in the Laboratory and publication work is supervised by the staff.

Museum visits and fieldtrip to Crustumerium and Monterotondo are part of the course.

Costs

Participants will receive free tuition and excursions (including most entry fees for museums and archaeological sites). Travel expenses to and from Rome will be reimbursed up to € 100,- (or € 125,- in case you make the complete trip by train) upon a successful completion of this course. Meals and personal expenses are not included.

Facilities in Rome

All participants, will be housed at the Royal Netherlands Institute near Rome’s Villa Borghese Park. From there, it is only a short walk to the historical center of Rome. The KNIR accommodation consists of shared bedrooms and bathrooms, and includes a living and dining space, a large kitchen, washing machine and wireless internet. All residents have 24/7 access to the library and gardens of the Royal Netherlands Institute.

Application and admission

This practicum is open to max. 4 BA, (R)MA students. The selection of participants is based on grades, the added value of the course in the student’s curriculum, a letter of motivation, and the composition of the group.Students can apply via the button ‘Register for a course’ on the course overview page. Include in your application:

• a letter of motivation (max. 1 A4)
• a cv
• a recent list of courses followed and grades provided by your university

We believe diversity enriches debate: different perspectives contribute to the quality of our work. We therefore value and highly encourage applications from students with diverse backgrounds and identities.

Deadline applications

26 October 2026. You will be notified about the outcome within two weeks after the deadline. Please note that the decision of the selection committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

More info

E-mail: secretary knir.it
Phone: (+39)063269621 photo:

©photo: Romano Impero. Typical pottery shape from a tomb inventory