This placement, offered by the Roman Society, gave PhD students an opportunity to participate in the British School at Rome and University of London excavations at Falerii Novi.

The Project: In 2021, the British School at Rome and Institute of Classical Studies (University of London), with the universities of Harvard and Toronto, excavations inside the city walls of Falerii Novi following authorisation by the Italian Ministero della Cultura, under the supervision of the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paessaggio per la provincia di Viterbo e per l’Etruria meridionale. The site sits just 50km north of Rome, along the ancient Via Amerina. The project aims to analyse the diachronic urban, economic and socio-historical development of the city from mid-Republican foundation to a suspected abandonment in the early Middle Ages.

The project has undertaken large-scale excavation focussed on several areas: the macellum, a domus south of the forum, and an insula and intersection along the Via Amerina near the south gate, and tabernae along the town's forum. In summer 2024, the project explored these areas through open area excavation with a team of  35 people from a range of nationalities and universities along with visiting specialists. Participants gained supervised experience in scientific stratigraphic excavation and recording as well as selected specialist skills (e.g., object analysis, digital recording, environmental sampling and flotation).

Reports: Successful candidates from previous years wrote reports on their experiences. You can read their reports here:

Adam Bracchi (2023 placement holder): report.

Gabrielle Hill-Smith (2024 placement holder): report.