The archaeology faculty and staff of College of DuPage invite you to join our excavations at this important site in the hills of east central Czech Republic. Located between the historic cities of Brno and Olomouc, Seloutky is an early Celtic burial site with unique stone tombs.
Where: Olomouc, Czech Republic, Europe, about 2.5 hours north of Vienna and east of Prague
Because of the economic situation in Europe and student feedback, more free time will be provided in place of field trips, although some trips will still take place. Field trips could include Asparn (Austria), Dolni Vestonice, Mikulcice, Modra and Sedlec (Czech Republic), Trenčín and/or Nitra and Cachtice, (Slovak Republic),* although students are also free to travel on their own or in small groups on the weekends.
*These are day trips. Transportation and admissions to destinations are included, although students are responsible for their own food and any additional fees associated with individual side trips or activities.
Tuition is the same whether in or out of state. College of DuPage is fully accredited and we have transferred these courses to numerous state and private institutions. Up to nine credit hours of study will be available, pending final approval of the field logistics and permits. These will be a required course in field archaeology and a laboratory in field archaeology. Students must enroll in the field and lab archaeology components.
Interested students can also take a course in bioarchaeology. We have access to numerous archaeologically excavated sets of human remains from the site. Dr. Michael Dietz will conduct a course in the fundamentals of bioarchaeology, based on the analysis of human skeletal remains.
Airfare or other means of transport to and from the site is not included in the cost. Students will meet at our excavation location near Olomouc, Czech Republic (easily accessible by rail and bus) by the start date and will complete their trip there at the end of the program. Students will likely find it much more affordable to travel on their own using student discount rates or other personal discounts. However, once the project director has established his airfare, this will be made public and students are welcome to book travel on the same routes and carriers as the project staff. Contact Dr. Dietz for the specific details.
Students will eat breakfast in the dormitory and lunch in the field. Breakfasts will be typical Czech field breakfasts, including yogurts, granola, vegetables, cheese, bread, and meat. The typical field lunch will include sandwiches, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, pretzels/chips. Students will have access to a refrigerator in or near their dormitory should they wish to have their own food or drinks.
For dinner, we will eat at a local restaurant in Olomouc. Students will choose between 2 soups and 5-7 main entrees. Entrees are typically hearty, featuring chicken or pork. Czech food is typically high protein, high carbohydrate, and high fiber. Special dietary needs can be met, such as vegetarians and those with gluten intolerance, as the restaurant offers a variety of meal options, and can modify many meals.
Some weekend meals may also be furnished, though students typically travel widely and may not be present on-site for most of the weekend. The dormitory has basic kitchen facilities for students that wish to use them. Amenities include hot plates, microwaves, and toaster ovens.
Students and staff will be staying in the dormitories at Palackŷ University in Olomouc. Located along one of the channels of the Morava River, the university is well integrated into the business and social life of the city, only 10 minutes walk from the historic center of Olomouc. The proximity to local businesses and restaurants affords students easy access to goods, services, and relaxation during time off from the excavations and classes.
The dormitories are similar to college dormitories found in the United States. Each room sleeps two to three people, with desk and shelf space for each person. A common room is shared by two dormitory rooms, with additional closet space, a shared refrigerator, and a shared bathroom and shower. Free WIFI is available throughout the dormitory and throughout most, if not all, of the campus.
College of DuPage accepts enrollment from students across the globe. The Czech-American Archaeological Field School has had participants in various capacities from the United States, Canada, Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. In a typical year approximately half of the program's participants come from the College of DuPage while others come from diverse and often distinguished backgrounds. The institutions from which participants have come include:
As this is a recently discovered site, our excavations this summer will continue to investigate the structure, context, and meaning of the site as well as excavating at least two of the complex box graves, each containing the cremated remains of up to 25 individuals in funerary vessels
Excavation procedures, mapping using laser levels and total stations (laser theodolites supported by onboard computers), feature excavation, field photography, and materials recording. Any human skeletal remains that are excavated will be subjected to preliminary forensic analysis at the research facility, pending remaining excavation time and the condition of the remains.
Excavations by the Office of Archaeological Research in Prostejov have thus far focused on determining the size and basic structure of the site. It is important to note that no one can predict exactly what will be encountered, so some variation in precisely what occurs is likely.
For more information and enrollment material contact
Dr. Michael Dietz
Assistant Director, Czech American Archaeological Field School
College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599
(630) 942-2553