Huntley helps students explore ancient ruins

Huntley at a Libarna archeology site.

This article was written by Ashlee Bleier, a senior studying Integrated Media and Strategic Communications and a member of the student-run Blue House Agency.

Katherine Huntley, associate professor in the Department of History, has been helping students explore the ancient Roman colony of Libarna in Northwest Italy since 2016.

Huntley is the project director for the Libarna Urban Landscapes Project Archeological Field School, which lets students excavate an archaeological site that has been active for more than 200 years. Every student is trained on-site in a local lab and introduced to the basics of archeological discovery and ways to interpret archeological data.

"Allowing students to explore this ancient city provides them with a unique learning experience," Huntley said. "Beyond doing archaeology, the students get a full cultural experience. We excavate on the main road in town and the locals love to stop by to see what we are doing."

Huntley also supplements students' hands-on work through discussions, readings and visits to nearby museums and historical sites. Along with her staff, Huntley's research is helping to study unstudied areas of the Roman world using new technology. In previous years, she has used ground penetrating radar to investigate the layout of the site through a geophysical survey, which reveals archaeological structures without digging.

The next group consisting of ten history students will go to the Libarna Field School from June 22 - July 20, 2024, to start this year's research. For more information, visit the field school website.

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