Learn rock art: Valcamonica fieldwork 2017

Rock Art recording

Tracing prehistory: from July 20 to August 10 2017 the annual archaeology field school at Paspardo will be open to archaeologists, scholars, students and enthusiasts. We are working on engraved rocks made by prehistoric and protohistoric people during the Neolithic (six thousand years ago), Bronze Age and Iron Age (from four thousand to two thousand years ago).This area gives a great opportunity to learn, survey, photograph, draw and catalogue the rock engravings. The program involves field research, documentation, tracing, guided visits and lectures. Fieldwork is organised by Footsteps of Man, Valcamonica. Infos, poster and photo-galleries here available.

by Angelo Eugenio Fossati


 

Valcamonica
Rock Art and Archaeology Fieldwork & Fieldschool
2017 – from July 20 to August 10

Location: Paspardo, Italy

Season: July 20, 2017 to August 10, 2017

Session dates: July 20-27; July 27-August 3; August 3-10

Application Deadline: Thursday, July 13, 2017

Website where you can see Valcamonica rock art: http://www.rupestre.net

Affiliation: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), Brescia, and Footsteps of Man Archaeological Cooperative Society (IFRAO member), ITALY

Project Director: Prof. Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI

Paspardo, Valcamonica, tracing Neolithic and Bronze Age rock art

Project Description

Valcamonica rock art (the first World Heritage List site in UNESCO in Italy), is an alpine valley between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia in Northern Italy. In Valcamonica rock art constitutes an archaeological, artistic, ethnographic and historical patrimony of immense value, not only for its antiquity but, for the thematic and iconographic wealth. As an active rock art centre, member of IFRAO (International Federation of Rock Art Organizations), the Footsteps of Man and the Catholic University of Brescia, organise annual archaeology fieldwork at Paspardo, one of the major concentrations of engravings in the area, giving those interested (archaeologists and scholars, students and enthusiasts) the opportunity to help the research and learn how to study rock art at Valcamonica.

Valcamonica, Paspardo , Iron Age rock art

Project participants will: survey, excavate, clean, photograph, draw and catalogue the engraved rocks in three main sites at Paspardo, Valcamonica: Vite-‘al de plaha, La Bosca, Castello. The project consists of different phases, some are executed at the sites (survey to find new engraved rocks; analysis of the level of damage to the rock surfaces and conservation problems; contact tracing to record the engravings using permanent pens on plastic sheets and photography), and some in the laboratory (reduction of drawing to scale; cataloguing of engravings). Training will be given.

During each week-long fieldwork session, participants will also have evening lectures on rock art subjects delivered by scholars of international fame, watch films, and have the opportunity to visit other rock art sites (such as the National Park of Naquane, at Capo di Ponte, the park of Foppe di Nadro, at Ceto, and the Park of Bedolina-Seradina at Capo di Ponte), the Roman National Museum and some medieval churches with beautiful frescoes and sculptures.

Period(s) of Occupation: Neolithic to Medieval Time.

here you can download the application form

qui puoi scaricare la scheda di iscrizione

Valcamonica, rock art survey

 

For any further information and applications contact:
prof. Angelo E. Fossati | “THE FOOTSTEPS OF MAN” ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Piazzale Donatori di Sangue, 1 | 25040 Cerveno (BS) Italy | cell. +39.3408517548
angelo.fossati@unicatt.it | ae.fossati@libero.it | www.rupestre.net

 

Valcamonica
Campo Estivo di Archeologia e Arte Rupestre

dal 20 Luglio al 10 Agosto 2017

L’insegnamento di Preistoria e Protostoria dell’Università Cattolica del S. Cuore di Brescia e la Cooperativa Archeologica Le Orme dell’Uomo di Cerveno (BS) organizzano l’annuale campo scuola estivo rivolto alla ricerca e allo studio dell’arte rupestre in Valcamonica (Lista del Patrimonio Mondiale dell’UNESCO), dove ha sede una delle più importanti manifestazioni di arte preistorica d’Europa. Il campo è organizzato con il patrocinio del Comune di Paspardo, della Riserva Naturale delle Incisioni Rupestri di Ceto, Cimbergo, Paspardo e la concessione archeologica del Ministero dei Beni Culturali.
È un’occasione per avvicinarsi allo straordinario repertorio figurativo preistorico della Valcamonica e imparare i metodi di studio dell’archeologia rupestre. Il campo è aperto a tutti, studenti, appassionati, archeologi e insegnanti.

Paspardo, Costapeta, Bronze Age spears

Paspardo, Costapeta, Bronze Age spears

Si imparerà a ricercare, disegnare, catalogare e studiare le rocce incise dei siti Vite, La Bosca e Castello presso Paspardo (BS). È previsto l’utilizzo di nuovi metodi di studio quali il laser scanning e la fotografia tridimensionale.

Durante il campo verranno organizzate visite ai parchi di arte rupestre e ai musei della Valcamonica.

Per informazioni e iscrizioni:
prof. Angelo E. Fossati | COOPERATIVA ARCHEOLOGICA “LE ORME DELL’UOMO”
Piazzale Donatori di Sangue, 1 | 25040 Cerveno (BS) Italy | cell. +39.3408517548
angelo.fossati@unicatt.it | ae.fossati@libero.it | www.rupestre.net

Valcamonica fieldwork Facebook page

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Valcamonica Rock Art filedschool Facebook page; pagina Facebook di Valcamonica Rock Art fieldschool

 

 

Fieldwork photogallery

Fieldwork photogallery

Valcamonica, The Concarena mountain view from Paspardo

Visits to the major rock art parks and museums in Valcamonica will be organized during the field season.

The project consists of different phases, some are executed on the sites, some in laboratory:

  • researches on the sites: surveys for finding new engraved rocks; analysis of the damages of the rock surfaces; contact tracing: drawing of the engravings with permanent pens on plastic sheets; photographs;
  • in laboratory: reduction of the drawings in scale size; catalogue of the engravings; lessons and conferences on Valcamonica and alpine rock art and on other world areas.

Participants will learn how to work with rock art: they will study how to deal with conservation problems; they will be able to draw rock engravings; they will know how to enlighten rocks to make photography reports; they will have a good general idea of the rock art in Valcamonica and in the Alpine area.

Project size: 25-49 participants (volunteers, crew, collaborators).

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: one session (one week).

Minimum age: 16.

Experience required: keen eyes and open mind. You will acquire experience during participation.

Participants usually come from different countries of the world, official languages are English and Italian. In Paspardo accommodation is provided in house with rooms, dormitories, showers and kitchen.

Images of the Valcamonica rock art fieldschool at the Facebook page:
valcamonicarockart.fieldschool


Fieldwork photogallery

Fieldwork photogallery

Program exemplifying a typical week of fieldwork

Thursday

Afternoon: arrivals, opening and welcome Evening: making acquaintance

Friday

Morning: presentation of works and “Valcamonica rock art”, a short general view of Valcamonica rock art, by Angelo Fossati (short lecture). Tracing trials using the rock art casts. Afternoon: visit to the rock art sites of Paspardo Evening: free

Saturday

Morning: guided visit to the National Park of Rock Engravings of Naquane, Capo di Ponte Afternoon: research and documentation Evening: “How to study and reasearch a surface with rock art” by the crew (short lecture with slides)

Sunday

Morning and afternoon: research and documentation Evening: free

Monday

Morning: guided visit to the National Archaeological Museum and the Theater of Cividate Camuno
Afternoon: research and documentation Evening: short lecture with slides

Tuesday

Morning and afternoon: research and documentation Evening: free

Valcamonica, rock art tracing

Wednesday

Morning: research and documentation Afternoon: guided visit to the of Cemmo Boulders National Park, Capo di Ponte
Evening: lecture in Cerveno

Thursday

Morning and afternoon: research and documentation (arrivals, opening and welcome)
Evening: making acquaintance

The evening lectures (usually in English or with English translation) will be illustrated with the help of slides. The themes also will be diversified during the three weeks. Different rock art experts and scholars are invited to deliver these presentations. Research and documentation means that we are working on the field or in laboratory

In general: Breakfast 7.30 a.m. Start work 8.30 a.m. Lunch 00.30 p.m. Recommence work: 2.00 p.m. End work: 6.00 p.m. Free time: 6.00-7.30 p.m. Dinner: 7.30 p.m. Lectures/Free time: 9.00 p.m.

(PASPARDO – Valcamonica) Meeting days:
Thur 20 July or Thur 27 July, or Thur 3 August 2017

Meeting point: the train station at Capo di Ponte (Valcamonica, Brescia province), from 16.30 pm to 19.00 pm. If you come in other dates or hours: let us know in advance when you are coming (via email or application form) so we can meet you at the station. In any case you can call us at the mobile tel. +39.3332875920 or +39.340-8517548. At the meeting point you will meet the members of the Footsteps of Man and by our cars you will reach Paspardo.

Meeting Hour: in the afternoon from 16.30 to 19.00 pm.

How to reach Capo di Ponte: by train from Brescia (Ferrovie dello Stato/State Railway Station. Address: Viale della Stazione, 64 -25122 BRESCIA http://www.ferroviedellostato.it)

TRAIN: from the State Railway Station (FS) in Brescia there are local trains to Valcamonica (at 15.07—17.07 p.m.). You get off at the Capo di Ponte station where the members of the Foot-steps of Man are waiting for you. The travel takes 1 hour and 40 minutes along the beautiful scenery of the Iseo Lake. Sit on the left side (going north) of the train if you want to see the lake better.

How to reach Brescia: by train from Milan (Stazione Centrale – Central Station) almost every hour there is a train to Brescia (it is the line to Venice-Venezia). Other trains to Brescia also from Bologna, Florence and Rome.

BUS: from the Sesto Marelli subway Station (Bus Terminal) in Milan (that you can easily reach with the red line of the underground, get off at the Sesto Marelli station) there is a bus (at 13.45 p.m.) that takes you to the Valcamonica where you get off at Capo di Ponte station at about 16.45.

How to go back to Milan or Brescia from Paspardo: in the same way using the train. Ask for details to the secretary as soon as you know exactly the date when you are leaving.

THINGS TO BRING: personal towels, work clothes, work gloves, gym and trekking shoes, sleeping bag,solar cream, insect repellent and sun glasses. Please to take out insurance against illness and injury, because we decline any responsibility. If you can, please have an anti-tetanus vaccination.

Valcamonica, the scanning of a rock art engraved surface

COSTS

In Paspardo accommodation is provided in a communal house with rooms, dormitories, showers and kitchen. Breakfast is given at communal house. Lunch at the site. Dinner at local restaurant. All meals are included into the cost.

Accommodation, food, lodging, working material, tuitions, lectures, general insurance, internal transports food, publications and working material will be provided at a cost of € 500,00 for one week per person (two weeks € 1000,00; three weeks € 1500,00; only Euros accepted). As soon as you know that your application has been accepted it is necessary to send a deposit of € 50,00 (for one session) or € 100,00 (for two sessions) or € 150,00 (for three sessions) through bank transfer to the current account n.:

Swift: BCITIT31414 IBAN: IT97 G030 6954 4401 0000 0000 646

In the name of Dr. Angelo Fossati, c/o Banca Intesa, Via Giuseppe Mazzini, 16, 25043 BRENO (BS). The secretary will send the necessary information.

If you are interested in coming you should stay for a session of 7 days in minimum. No fares or wages are offered. In Valcamonica there are banks where you can change money.

Academic Credits
Number of credits offered: a certificate of attendance is given that may be used to collect credits from universities.

ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE

At the end of the course, on request, it will be possible to obtain a certificate of attendance.

Paspardo, Valcamonica, Iron Age Camunian rose, Lombardy region logo

VALCAMONICA ROCK ART INFO
See www.rupestre.net

Application and information:
contact prof. Angelo E. Fossati |Società Cooperativa Archeologica LE ORME DELL’UOMO

Address: Piazzale Donatori di Sangue, 1 | 25040 Cerveno (BS) | Italia
mob +39.3332875920 or +39.3408517548
Email: angelo.fossati@unicatt.it | valcamonicafieldwork@libero.it | www.rupestre.net

 

here you can download the application form

qui puoi scaricare la scheda di iscrizione

Summer fieldwork photogallery

Download (PDF, 20KB)


Valcamonica rock art photogallery


References

Attorrese E., A. Fossati, 2002, “Rock 53 of Vite-Deria: New Elements for the Study of Degradation of Valcamonica Petroglyphs.” American Indian Rock Art. 28: 103-110.

Fossati A., “But they are only puppets. Problems of management and educational programs in the rock art of Valcamonica and Valtellina, Lombardy, Italy.” Rock Art Research. 20(1): 25-30. 2003.

Arcà A. , A. Fossati, Sui sentieri dell’arte rupestre. Le rocce incise delle Alpi. Storia, ricerche, escursioni (On the paths of rock art. The carved rocks of the Alps. History, researches, excursions). Turin,1995.

Simoes de Abreu M., A. Fossati, L. Jaffe, Scolpito nel Tempo. Le incisioni rupestri della Valcamonica. Cerveno, 1989.

Nash G., Abreu Simoes De M., Fossati A., Alpine Art, in MINERVA, vol. 2011, p. 8-11, 2011

 

Valcamonica, rock art tracing


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