From classroom the Excavation Site: Four Students in Degree History and the Diploma Archaeology Are Participating in an Archaeological Excavation in France

Naiara Monroy, Zabdi Balderas, Elena Sánchez Gullón, and Irene Carasa, students in Degree History and the Diploma Archaeology at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, participated this summer in an international archaeological campaign in the Roman city of Eauze, in southern France. Led by Professor Laurent Callegarin of the Université de Pau, the work at the site has unearthed artifacts of great historical value, including a Roman mosaic, coins, metals, ceramics, remains of kilns, and graves, among other finds.

For a month, our students had the opportunity to apply the knowledge they acquired in the classroom to a real-world research context; work international specialists; and see work how the Humanities a decisive Humanities to heritage conservation. The opportunity to participate in the excavation arose during the 4th Navarre congress Antiquity, held last March, when Professor Callegarin invited students from the University of Navarre to join the archaeological campaign. For Naiara, her first contact the site was as striking as it was exciting: “The first thing that surprised me was its sheer size and the magnitude of project. I also felt a mix of excitement and responsibility, as it has been a unique opportunity to learn, gain experience, and participate in an excavation of great archaeological significance.”

Far from the romanticized image of archaeology as a series of spectacular discoveries, the work at a site requires method, patience, and precision. The conference excavation, cleaning, documentation, drawing, stratigraphic recording, and conservation of the finds, in which every detail is essential to preserving historical information. “Every task requires a great deal of attention, because even a small mistake can compromise the archaeological evidence,” explains Zabdi, who has worked in the area the ovens and at the boundary between a domus and its courtyard, where the team has documented various Structures archaeological materials. For her part, Elena highlights the scientific dimension of the discipline: “Archaeology is a research method research requires patience and integrity to gain the deepest possible understanding of the lives of those who were here before us.”

However, as our students explain, that rigor goes hand in hand with particularly exciting moments. In the second week of the excavation, numerous artifacts began to appear, and shortly thereafter, the team began to uncover a Roman mosaic with geometric patterns. “Watching the tesserae and their geometric patterns emerge was thrilling, because you realize you’re bringing to light something that has remained hidden for centuries,” recalls Naiara. For Irene, the excitement comes even with the smallest finds: “Finding any material remains—whether pottery, animal remains, glass, metal, etc.—no matter how small, is very special because of the feeling that you’re the first person in many, many centuries to touch those objects.”

The students agree that the campaign has been a great opportunity to see the practical value of the training at the university. They say that the knowledge they gained from their Degree History and their Diploma Archaeology has allowed them to work confidently from the very beginning and understand the historical context of each finding. As Zabdi notes, “One of the aspects that has benefited us most from our training the work with pottery. Working contact this material on a weekly contact has allowed us to develop greater speed and confidence in identifying and classifying the pieces during the excavation.”

The experience has also helped me develop skills that are difficult to acquire solely in the classroom. “I’ve been able to gain in-depth familiarity with excavation, documentation, and archaeological recording techniques. In addition, I’ve learned to work as part of a team, which has allowed me to discover other ways of understanding and practicing archaeology,” says Naiara. Elena emphasizes the skills developed during work : “We’ve learned technical skills such as archaeological drawing and stratigraphic recording, but above all, we’ve worked as a team and learned that work brings great rewards.”

Beyond technical learning, the experience in Eauze has reinforced a conviction shared by all four students: understanding the past requires a broad perspective—one characteristic of the Humanities—that is capable of integrating different disciplines to interpret the lives of those who came before us and preserve their bequest. “The past should be understood less as a set of events that occurred, and more as the lives of people who, like us, lived their day-to-day lives,” reflects Elena.