Poland Bioarchaeology Field School
Field School | Research | Student Narratives | APPLY
The Medieval Bioarchaeology Field Program in Żelewo, Poland is a Summer field school run jointly through Cal Poly Humboldt and the Slavia Foundation. It is a unique opportunity to excavate and analyze human remains from a medieval cemetery as part of a salvage archaeology expedition. Salvage archaeology happens when a site is at risk due to factors such as erosion or developments and thus needs to be mitigated.
The field school takes place in the beautiful countryside village of Żelewo in northwestern Poland, about 60 miles south of the Baltic Sea. The cemetery site at Żelewo dates back to the 13th-15th Century and is now being explored as part of a salvage archaeological project due to intensive agriculture in the region. So far, 22 Christian rite burials have been revealed, but little is known about the rest of the cemetery. This site is expected to reveal numerous well-preserved burials providing an excellent opportunity for real hands-on experience analyzing remains. This is an active research site, and students participate directly in the research.
This program is an intensive and rewarding experience. Students work side-by-side with archaeologists and osteologists to locate and excavate burials – they learn field methods such as leveling, revealing grave shape, excavation, and mapping. In the lab, students gain skills in human osteology and pathology by analyzing remains and producing biological profiles of the individuals. Students also experience Polish culture and history firsthand by interacting with the community and visiting historical sites such as castles and churches, while living in a country that has long been a crossroads of central Europe.
Courses/Units
- ANTH 339, Bioarchaeology at Żelewo, Poland (3 units). This is the course students take in the summer as part of the program. All work for the course will be integrated with the program.
- ANTH 307, Medieval Europe (3 units). This is an optional additional course that students can choose to take to learn more about the general region and time period. It will be offered in an asynchronous online format during the summer.
Read student narratives from earlier seasons at our previous nearby site
Session 1 Dates:
- June 24-25, 2023: Recommended arrival at/near Poland (see below). At least one full day ahead is recommended.
- June 26: At 12:00 noon, the field school bus picks students up in Szczecin, which is the regional capital about 18 miles from the field site. To get to Szczecin, students take a bus/train from their arrival airport of choice. We recommend arriving at the Brandenburg Airport (BER) airport and catching the FlixBus next to the airport. Students attending the program will be provided additional information in a shared Google Doc.
- June 26 - July 19: Field and lab work at Żelewo, and travel to nearby areas
- July 19: Bus returns students to Szczecin at about 10:00am. From this point, students may continue travel independently or take a bus/train to their departure airport. If leaving directly after the program, students are advised to plan their flight no sooner than the late afternoon. We recommend planning the departing flight at least a day after the program to give yourself time to sightsee.
Session 2 Dates:
- July 18-19, 2023: Recommended arrival at/near Poland (see below). At least one full day ahead is recommended.
- July 20: At 12:00 noon, the field school bus picks students up in Szczecin, which is the regional capital about 18 miles from the field site. To get to Szczecin, students take a bus/train from their arrival airport of choice. We recommend arriving at the Brandenburg Airport (BER) airport and catching the FlixBus next to the airport. Students attending the program will be provided additional information in a shared Google Doc.
- July 20 - Aug 12: Field and lab work at Żelewo, and travel to nearby areas
- Aug 12: Bus returns students to Szczecin at about 10:00am. From this point, students may continue travel independently or take a bus/train to their departure airport. If leaving directly after the program, students are advised to plan their flight no sooner than the late afternoon. We recommend planning the departing flight at least a day after the program to give yourself time to sightsee.
Location / Site Information
- The field school takes place in the beautiful countryside village of Żelewo (see map) in northwestern Poland. Żelewo is a small village on the shore of Lake Miedwie. There are many additional towns and villages around the lake, including Kobylanka, where we plan to lodge. The site is about 18 miles from the regional capital Szczecin.
- Students stay in classrooms (at a local school) that have been adapted as dormitories. There are restroom and shower facilities. Cell phone reception at the school is generally good. There may be intermittent internet/Wi-Fi.
- Meals are served at in the morning, afternoon, and evening. We will eat healthy Polish fare, and vegetarian options are available for all meals. Water is drinkable from the tap.
- During the program, we usually tour cities in the immediate area with potentially one longer trip.
Budget
- Program fee: $3,500. Covers in-Poland costs between pick-up and drop-off at the arrival city (Szczecin, Poland), from June 26-July 19 (Session 1) or July 20-Aug 12 (Session 2). This includes travel from Szczecin to the site and back, lodging at the site, and meals during the program. Students are responsible for additional costs for any choice travel, outings, and snacks, etc... before/during/after the program.
- Tuition: $110 *or* $220 per unit: You can choose just 3 units (ANTH 339), or 3 additional units (ANTH 307). It is possible to go for 0 units with instructor permission. *All students will have $220 per unit "billed" initially - current Cal Poly Humboldt students (not graduated before Summer 2023) will be eligible for an award to reduce this by $110 per unit after initially billed.
- International health insurance (preliminary): $85 - students enroll in a CSU-wide provider.
- Travel to and from Poland: Cost varies. Students are responsible for their own travel to and from Szczecin, Poland (see schedule for more information). Cost varies depending on time of purchase and travel choices. Flights are generally least expensive if purchased in advance and if flying from a major airport (e.g., SFO). Flying form the East Coast is generally less expensive. Specific information will be provided to attendees. Students are advised to not purchase airfare until their acceptance to the program is verified; however, keep in mind that fares are lower with early purchase. Students are advised to purchase flight insurance; the program shall not reimburse students for airfare if for any reason the student does not attend the program or if incorrect flights are purchased prior to confirming arrival information with faculty.
- Looking for scholarships? Check out:
Qualifications/Application to Attend
- An application is required. Please see the Program Application Page (Priority application deadline is Feb 1, 2023 - you are encouraged to apply early). After Feb 1, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as spots are open.
- There are no required prerequisite coursework or major for this program. Students with any major/background may attend if in good academic standing. This program is also open to students that do not attend Cal Poly Humboldt.
Contact Information
Interested students are encouarged to contact us if you have any questions - we are happy to help!
Marissa Ramsier, PhD
Professor of Anthropology, Cal Poly Humboldt
marissa.ramsier@humboldt.edu
Ariel Gruenthal-Rankin, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Hawai`i-West O`ahu
Research Associate in Anthropology, Cal Poly Humboldt
ariel.gruenthal@humboldt.edu
Katherine Gaddis, MA, Program Faculty, Osteology Lab
Doctoral Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Lecturer in Anthropology, Cal Poly Humboldt
katherine.gaddis@humboldt.edu
