Ms. Naomi Neufeld (Classics '13) recently returned from the field and reports:
This June, I had the privilege of accompanying Dr. Fabio
Colivicchi and the Queen’s Classics department (http://www.queensu.ca/classics/matera.html) on an archaeological excavation in
Cerveteri, Italy. The excavation explored the Etruscan site of ancient Caere, which
was a major southern Etruscan coastal city. Caere was one of the closest
Etruscan cities to Rome, and was renowned for its religious significance and
customs (the word “ceremony” even comes from the Latin word caeremonia, which means “pertaining to Caere”).
We were working in the civic and spiritual centre of the city, excavating an exceptional Etruscan religious structure, called the Hypogeum of Clepsina.
It is a subterranean ritual chamber which is constructed and oriented according
to Etruscan cosmology, and which contains Hellenistic Etruscan frescoes,
inscriptions, and a network of tunnels and staircases. In a nearby trench, we
also excavated a late Etruscan and Roman urban area, in which we uncovered a
Roman road, a possible domestic structure, and an underground shrine. This was
my first archaeological excavation, and I was thrilled to learn more about
archaeological theories, techniques, and practices.
On the weekends, we visited many important Etruscan sites,
such as the Villa Giulia in Rome, the Banditaccia necropolis of Caere, and the
painted tombs of Tarquinia. We also visited many of the important Classical
sights in Rome, such as the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. One of
the highlights of the trip was an excursion to Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, which
had some of the most fascinating and beautiful Roman ruins I have visited. I
had such an amazing experience on this excavation that I hope to return and
continue digging next year.
For the rest of the summer I am continuing to work on my
USRA project, in which I relate what I learnt about the Etruscans during my
trip, to further research about their culture and art. My research focuses on
the vibrant funerary frescoes which adorn many Etruscan tombs, examining their
thematic content and iconography to reveal evidence of Greek influence. Through
this research I hope to understand better about the formative influences and cultural
stimuli, both foreign and local, that created and contributed to the colourful
and unique society of the Etruscan peoples.
