Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "archaeology" projects in France

The town of Auzat, situated in a lovely valley in the Pyrenees mountains, has been organising organised archaeological excavations for several years. This year, excavations will take place on a former place of shepherd accommodation, Les Orris du Carla, located at 1617m above sea level, about half an hour from the Auzat village.
What is an Orri ? http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orri

During the excavations you will work with volunteers coming from all backgrounds in a spirit of cultural and intercultural discovery.

You will participate to the works under the supervision of the person in charge of excavations. The work takes place every other day. In case of rain, you will focus on cleaning and sorting the found objects. The work is very precise, sometimes hard, and extremely interesting and rewarding if you are fond of archaeology ! A UNAREC campleader will welcome you and accompany you for the organisation of the campsite, of daily life and of local culture discovery. You will fully participate to it.

The mountainous landscape will allow you to have numerous hikes. You will be able to discover the valley of Vic-Dessos, its caves and its markets.

In this little Pyrenees valley, you can find caves with rock painting, several castles, museums… For more information, http://auzatvicdessos.free.fr/. Some visits are free, others need an entry fee. Do not forget your ‘Discovery budget’ (from 50 to 100€). A gastronomy discovery activity will be organised. There are facilities and shops in the valley (bars, restaurants, bakery, etc.)

The campsite will be near the excavation site, at 1617metres above sea level, without electricity nor running water. All the material will be brought by car. There will be individual tents for the night a big one for cooking and collective life. Do not forget your torch lamps. Moutain springs will provide our water. Dry toilets will be set up and maintained, as well as solar showers. The Auzat camping, at half an hour by car, will welcome from time to time for a break, a night, a shower, for swimming, for washing your clothes !

French speaking camp.
To join this workcamp it is compulsory to be vaccinated against tetanus. An attestation will be asked on arrival. It is compulsory to bring good trekking shoes, enough warm clothes, torch lamp and high mountain sleeping bag (-15/20°C). Temperatures in June/July are not very low. Follow this advice to guarantee good comfort ! Bring a mountain foam rubber mattress, a flask and water purifying pills, and a small or medium backpack !

AUZAT

TLS Toulouse-Blagnac

TARASCON-SUR-ARIèGE

The Project The Port musee (Harbour museum) of Douarnenez has the unique particularity to offer an afloat museum, where the ships can be discovered in the exceptional landscape of the tide of Port Rhu. In a continuous will to value actively the naval heritage, the Port Musee welcomes this summer an international volunteer workcamp in partnership with the ADRAMAR, the Association for Naval Archaeology Research Development, and Des Hommes et des Arbres (People and Trees), an association promoting ancient know how linked to wood. In an experimental archaeological approach, you will build a medieval pirogue from the XIIth century found near Vannes the pirogue of Largouet. You will take part in workshop of naval heritage discovering, underwater archaeology and ancient know hows. You will also support the ADRAMAR and museum team in the animation of those workshops with the young local people and the museum public. Embark on this project full of cultural exchanges and discoveries ! Web address http deshommesetdesarbres.fr http www.adramar.fr

The work You will take part in the digging and the making of a wooden pirogue according to a medieval pirogue from the XIIth century, according to an experimental archaeological protocol The activities Leaders will suggest you several activities all along the workcamp. However, in order to fully live your workcamp, it is important for you to share activities ideas that you would like to set up. It will then be decided with the volonteers and the leaders by mutual agreement. So be imaginative ! A participation to the activities is waited for. You will live a life group experience, don t forget it!

18-99

Bretagne

English, French

ORY CDG Charles de Gaulle Paris ORY Orly Paris

Quimper

€200 (Euros)

This year, Concordia returns to Arvieu, where two workcamps were organised in 2005 and 2007. These projects went very well and we received a warm welcome from the inhabitants. During the second workcamp, the volunteers did some excavation work in a room of an old convent and found some bones. In the meantime, archaeologists have secured the site so that this year, we can continue the work in the convent and in an adjoining round room (probably an old castle tower).

you will do some earthwork (digging, excavation) in these two rooms which are of archaeological interest (possibility to find bones).

English

Arvieu is a lovely and dynamic village near Rodez in the Aveyron, a district with a rich historical heritage which is visited by many tourists. Sports activities are also possible in this area.

in a hall belonging to the village.

Rodez train station.

for more information have a look at www.arvieu.fr