The 2005 MAXENTIANS
TRENCH 11 (interior of western
section of aula):
Brian, Heather, Bill (top row, l to r); Beth, Lindsey, Brianna, Jonathan, Daphne,
Crystal (middle row, l to r); Courtney, Annie (bottom row, l to r)
trench supervised by Crystal Fritz
TRENCH 12 (exterior of eastern
section of aula and interior of vestibule):
Rachel, Eric, Patty, Joanna, Tessa, Kristen, Julie, Karen, Stephanie, Matt,
Mario (on bridge, l to r); Christina (on wall)
trench supervised by Christina Trier with the assistance of Rachel Kahn
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The 2005 Maxentians
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School & Major(s) |
End of Season Thoughts
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JULIE University of Colorado, Boulder |
"There is so much potential to be found here at the Villa of Maxentius, in the site and in ourselves. I learned a great deal about how to excavate, what to look for, and innumerable amounts of Roman history. The experience has helped me narrow my archaeological goals for the future. I have never been more fascinated by what puzzles I can put together with the pieces that emerged from the trench, and by what other secrets still lie hidden in the soil." |
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LINDSEY University of Colorado. Boulder |
"As the project moved through its 5 weeks I found myself feeling more and more comfortable in the trench, fully trusting my decisions, prioritizing projects and taking the initiative,and understanding the greater goal of each of these projects. The true satisfaction that I have gained from this understanding has fueled my desire for further archaeological pursuits...For those interested, this is a more than valuable experience." |
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HEATHER University of Colorado, Boulder |
"The field school and archaeological excavations at the Villa of Maxentius proved to be (as expected) an invaluable experience both academically and personally. With a multitude of students from a variety of disciplines, this project was challenging and stimulating, physically demanding, and wonderfully organized. Our five weeks presented VMax in its sociopolitical and art historical context, further enriching our daily field work. In addition, the hands-on digging and archaeological methodology was learned on site and could be adjusted to any one person's interest. Not only was the faculty and staff highly knowledgeable, but incredibly approachable, making this experience truly unique. I wouldn't be surprised if there are no spots available for next year because of all the students who wish to return for next summer's season."
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TESSA University of Colorado, Boulder |
"Take all the things you think an archaeological excavation could be, imagine great leadership, wonderful food, an amazing place to stay, and you have the field school at the Villa of Maxentius. For the longest time I have wanted to be an archaeologist, but I had no field work. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for, and it confirmed everything for me. It was physically tiring, mentally demanding, and the best time of my life. I would go back in a heartbeat. At first, it was all about the discovery, and people would scramble to find things first. But then it became about the stratigraphy, the unanswered questions, and the history of the location. This excavation was an eye-opening experience and I will never forget it."
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PATTY University of Colorado, Boulder |
"Being a part of the 2005 excavations at the Villa of Maxentius was one of the greatest experiences of my life. During the 5 short weeks of field school, a relatively small group of archaeologists and students meticulously excavated down to the ancient layers every morning, while touring sites and learning about Roman history in the evenings. We started out essentially as 30 strangers in a new and strange place, studying one of Rome's strangest and least-known emperors whose villa had been almost completely reclaimed by nature. Over the weeks, we learned to peel the stratigraphic layers off of both the villa and off of ourselves and each other so that at the end of the five weeks, the site's ancient levels and our real selves were exposed...Personally, I will always be curious about the unanswered questions about this site, but I am determined to stay in touch with our directors in order to keep the intimate feeling I have towards the site and this amazing experience." |
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ANNIE University of Colorado, Boulder |
"This field school has truly been the experience of a lifetime. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to work alongside such knowledge, expertise, and passion for classical archaeology that is apparent in the staff and students of the 2005 season. I will cherish memories of this experience always, and feel blessed to be able to relate my name in a small way to this project. Thanks to VMax, I do know archaeology is what I want to do, and I hope to return someday." |
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BILL Carleton College |
"The Villa of Maxentius field school was as close to an ideal introduction to archaeology as I can imagine. The coursework on the Maxentian period worked very well to illuminate the significance of the work we did in the field. It was thrilling to learn about a certain kind of Roman construction technique or decoration one day in lecture, and then to actually find an example in the field the next. The history of the period we received in class made it clear why what we were doing was important. It is exciting to know that future scholars of the period may call upon information about Maxentius' Via Appia complex that I had a hand in discovering." |
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MARIO University of Colorado, Boulder |
"Although this was my first field school and excavation experience, who could have hoped for anything better? Great staff and topnotch students really made this experience fun. It's hard to believe it's been five weeks already. It really seems like only yesterday that we began digging in the dirt. Each day sped by with fun, excitement, and the anticipation of discovering something new...It has been an awesome experience that I'd be eager to repeat in a heartbeat (of course, after a long, restful autumn, winter and spring!). The prospect of what might happen in future years will always instill a thrill, an excitement, a passion for keeping up with the progress. This is one excavation I'll be damn proud to say I was a part of." |
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BETH University of Colorado, Boulder |
"The field school at the Villa of Maxentius provided me with a great opportunity as a student of Classics as well as of archaeology. Through the program, students participated in every aspect of an archaeological dig, from excavating to documentation to cataloging finds. The school created a hands-on learning environment in the field, but also provided us with the context of the history of the site and familiarized us with the architecture, politics and artistic trends which we were experiencing first hand. This excavation has also given us an opportunity to theorize and form our own opinions about the history of the building, allowing us to truly be archaeologists." |
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ERIC Kalamazoo College |
"The dig at the Villa of Maxentius is a very excellent project. Not only is it great for students interested in archaeology, but it has important historical importance. This dig may help shed light on one of the last pagan emperors and also Constantine and the Tetrarchs as figures. I personally enjoyed the experience and hope for more work to be done on this project." |
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STEPHANIE Kalamazoo College |
"As field school students, we were treated as equal contributors in our trenches, given the ability to complete paperwork, drawings, photographs and many other technical aspects of archaeology that I was never able to do on previous digs. We were always consulted about stratigraphic analysis and made to think critically about the layers we were digging, and because of that I am leaving this field school so much more educated in archaeological field work...I can't think of anything else I'd rather do than to return to the VMax project every year until we can REALLY figure out what those ledges mean." |
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COURTNEY University of Colorado, Boulder |
"The Villa of Maxentius dig was my first excavation. That is true for many of us here, and I think we are all grateful for that (and not just because of the great food and accommodations!). The work on site has been hard, but rewarding. I feel we not only made progress in understanding this site, but for us students, in understanding archaeology...Outside of the trenches, I enjoyed our classes and field trips. I knew little about Roman history before coming here, and they helped me put Maxentius into context. Learning about everything from Roman history to building techniques to numismatics made me think about all the types of information we can gain from the site, and how we interpret that information." |
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KARIN Michigan State University |
"Attending the Villa of Maxentius field school was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I learned a lot about Roman history, art, architecture and archaeology, and I had so much fun doing it! It was amazing to experience what we were learning firsthand and to see our progress in the trenches as the season progressed. I enjoyed being able to participate in all of the different aspects of field work, from registering finds to washing pottery to digging and sieving. The lectures and readings were a great supplement to what we learned at the dig site and helped to explain some of the features we were finding. The location and accommodations were superb, and the food was spectacular! All in all, VMax was a wonderful educational experience that changed my life." |
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KRISTEN University of Colorado, Boulder |
"My boots are already somber with silence because I will no longer be required to wear steel toes. And picking up pieces of broken pottery will never be as much fun. I had a great five weeks meeting many new people and learning archaeological methods. I do not think I could have had a better summer. Now as I leave I will remember 5 a.m. wake-ups and learning about trade in Rome during the third century by looking at pottery sherds." |
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DAPHNE Kalamazoo College |
"When I first heard that I was going to get up a 5:30 am every morning to go dig in the dirt, I began to question my decision to go on an archaeological dig. But the first morning we walked to the site, I watched the sun come up in the distance and it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I knew it would all be worth it. Although digging in the hot sun was excruciating at times, I still managed to learn things that I would never have learned in the classroom." |
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MATT University of Colorado, Boulder |
"My experience at the Villa of Maxentius project was different from anything I've ever done. Being at a field school and learning archaeological techniques first hand has been quite an experience. I learned more here in 5 weeks than I ever could have learned in a semester, plus I had a great time doing it. The staff and the students were all unique and personable and loved what they were doing. Learning about my field in such a way was very exhilarating." |
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BRIANNA University of Colorado, Boulder |
"This excavation has been one of the most influential experiences of my life. I learned so much through the field school and our site. The Villa of Maxentius poses so many questions and it feels good to know that you could be part of unraveling the mysteries. The hands-on application of stratigraphy and construction methods has allowed me to understand more fully the work of a professional archaeologist, and who wouldn't want to get up and watch the sun rise as they walked down the most ancient road in Rome?...Everyone comes home from the site smelly and sleepy and yet somehow satisfied. This opportunity is a wonderful adventure that I wish everyone got the chance to experience." |
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BRIAN University of Colorado, Boulder |
"The summer excavations at the Villa of Maxentius were both eventful and exciting in terms of the results by both of the active trenches. The Aula Palatina of the villa was explored by 20 students and accompanying staff for five weeks, and the grueling heat wasn't enough to keep the participants from getting a taste for modern archaeology, including stratigraphic excavation standards that were run in conjunction with historical and cultural lectures concerning the Tetrarchic period of Roman history, and primers on Roman ceramics, coinage, materials, and construction techniques. In all, the experience was extremely gratifying and whetted students' appetites for continuing exploration of archaeological research. For me personally, the understanding I have gained concerning archaeological field methods and Roman cultural history have proved invaluable for my academic development, and have fueled my hopes for being involved in a program like this in the future. This particular dig was extremely well put together, and run by staff members that were at the same time competent and excited about the prospects that this program could provide. The Villa of Maxentius is sure to be a gold mine for the archaeological community and CU students for many seasons." |
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JOANNA University of Colorado, Boulder |
"The VMax 2005 season passed quickly. The common mission to search for evidence of ancient activity on the site, specifically Maxentian and post-Maxentian activity, inspired camaraderie among all. This was essential as we waded through modern garbage deposits and cut our teeth as archaeologists by learning to use a pickax to remove cemented chunks of architectural debris, like bricks, stone and tile. Our (mostly) cheerful perseverance paid off and pottery dating no later than 300 AD was found. This showed activity prior to or possibly during Maxentius' reign (AD 306-312). The plot thickened as both trenches discovered robber trenches containing pottery forms that appeared in the 4th century AD and went out of use in the 6th century AD. We tasted the thrill of finding an ancient coin (dated to the reign of Claudius) and learned to identify marble when it is covered in hundreds of years of dust. Each of us tried our hands at creating to-scale drawings of our trenches at different stages, excavating with a pickax, shovel, trowel and paint brush. We moved, swept, wore and tasted more dirt than we'd seen in our lives and we made friends, learned lots and generated even more questions about Maxentius and his villa." |
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JONATHAN University of California, Davis |
"When I first received a scholarship to study archaeology in Rome with CU Boulder and Kalamazoo College, I had no idea what to expect. I had no background in archaeology or art. When I arrived in Rome, however, what I found was beyond my expectations. The VMax program offered me a chance to experience Roman art, architecture and archaeology. Many of my friends who study archaeology told me that I would be washing pottery and pushing wheelbarrows all day. On the contrary, I came to have an intimate knowledge of the workings of a dig. I had the chance to trowel, map out the trench, enter data into the databases, and even to create a Harris matrix along with my own report of what happened in the trench. VMax's holistic approach to archaeological training makes this program the ne plus ultra of field schools ." |
