At the turn of June and July 2024, we participated in a summer school of archaeology organized by the University of Bologna. The research took place in a unique location – the late antique Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily, famous for its beautiful Roman mosaics.
Students and professors from Italy, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and the USA gathered in Sicily. Working together in an international team allowed us to learn about new methodological approaches, cultures, and languages.
We worked in two test pits at the entrance to the villa. Our goal was to uncover the foundations of a 2nd-century Roman horrea. Among the most interesting finds were a column base, a collapsed staircase, a reverently laid human skeleton, and colorful mosaic cubes - tesserae. We also discovered fragments of luxury and everyday ceramics and glass.
However, the summer school program was not just about excavation. We participated in workshops focused on working with finds and the use of modern technologies in archaeology. The evenings were devoted to lectures by professors who shared with us their many years of experience and research in the Mediterranean.
The excursions were also unforgettable – from medieval churches and local museums to the iconic Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, where we stood among the best-preserved Greek temples in the world.
And finally, there was plenty of free time. Joint trips, long conversations, laughter, and sleepless nights brought us new friendships that transcend borders.
The summer school in Sicily was not only about archaeology, but also about people, culture, and experiences that we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Jakub Ondrášik and Dominik Andrej, students of the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy
