This is a photo essay of our experiences at the Sanisera Field School located on the Spanish island of Menorca. We spent a good part of May exploring the island's archaeological sights as well as excavating in the ancient Roman city of Sanisera.
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| Taula enclosure at Talati de Dalt, Menorca |
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Fifteen minutes after renting a car at the airport in Menorca we were walking in the Talayotic sanctuary that you see to the left. The Talayotic culture is unique to the two Balearic islands of Majorca and Menorca. Their architectural remains can be found all over the island. As we drove from the airport on the east side of island to Ciutadella on the west side, we passed many directional signs to those archaeology sites or and often visited the ruins themselves. The Taula, in the center (like a giant "T") is a megalithic structure only found on the island of Menorca. |
Our "dorm" was about 75 meters from this
beautiful plaza, an old hacienda with shared courtyard filled with tall trees and birds. We frequently enjoyed cafe con leche right on the plaza and used their internet.
About
30 meters from the plaza was a narrow alley that led to our lodging. Passing through the door off the alley we entered that beautiful shaded courtyard. Various shops filled the main pedestrian
streets, enticing us with their fresh produce and Menorcan wares.
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| Placa D' Alfons III Conqueridor |
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| Entrance to Ramonell off of Carrer Mao |
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From Placa D' Alfons III Conqueridor on Carrer Mao, we enjoyed pedestrian tile or cobbled narrow streets leading to our dorm on Ramonell. |
In this photo of Juana in the second storey room of our dormitory are seen the courtyard trees which greeted us each morning. We
could look out over several sculptures, placed artfully across a neighbor's garden, and hear birds calling.
Each day at the main dorm, Juana prepares breakfast,
makes our bocadillo subs for lunch break at the dig site, and cooks a tasty dinner. She also acts as the dorm 'mother', washes bedding and always leaves bottled water for the students. She is enthusiastic, if sometimes tired sometimes from working without weekends off, and smiles often. |
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| Juana - Our dorm 'Mom' |
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At the ancient Roman City of Sanisera, Joe uncovered a triangular shaped piece of white marble, about 30 cm on a side and 3 cm thick. Fernando (Contreras - on the right) believes it to be the first piece of architectural marble uncovered on Menorca. Llorenç (Alaport Martin, on the left) believes there is likely a burial under the marble. A section of tegula (roofing tile) was found in the same location. Please see the following Slideshow for more photos of the excavation site. |
| Llorenç sketches a tomba (tomb) burial in the Necropolis located a few meters from the excavation above. More photos appear in the Slideshow below. |
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| Natalie, looking very happy, after she uncovered a possible cover to a tomb. See the Slideshow below for more photos of the students. |
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| Karen displays something she just discovered. Karen, do you know what this is so we can label this picture? |
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Karen excavating in the Necropolis. The students taking this class ( 008: Digging anthropology in the Sanisera Necropolis) spent a lot of time on their tummies)
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