Program Description

The focal point of the Theban Tomb Survey is the ancient Egyptian necropolis known as the Valley of the Nobles, in the desert on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the modern town of Luxor in southern Egypt. Work in this coming field season will concentrate, for the first time, on the clearance and documentation of Theban Tomb #46, a mid-18th Dynasty tomb built for a king's official named Ramose. The tomb is in the desert on the west bank on the Nile opposite the town. The expedition will make use of the house near the tomb, belonging to the local Antiquities Department, for the work space and bathroom facilities. The students will reside in a four-star hotel situated on the Nile corniche. Both staff and students will share double rooms. Luxor is located approximately 500 miles south of Caior. After Cairo, the town of Luxor is the busiest and most popular place for tourists in Egypt and boasts many deluxe international hotels.

Field training will cover digging techniques, recording, analysis of human remains, object registry, and ceramic analysis and seriation. The participants will be called upon to assist the director and core technical staff in such tasks as excavation and clearance supervision, sifting debris for artifact recovery, architectural planning, recovery of human and faunal remains, pottery cleaning and restoration, and photography detail. Lectures will introduce the students to the history and archaeology of ancient Egypt

Tours led by the director on days off will be arranged for local sites, such as the Valley of the Kings; the Valley of the Queens; the mortuary temples of the Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, and Deir el-Bahari; the temples of Karnak and Luxor; and selected tombs of the Nobles. A day trip to Abydos in Middle Egypt is also planned.

Courses Offered

CAMS 492 Intermediate Field Methods (6 credits) OR
CAMS 493 Intermediate Field Analysis (6 credits) (prerequisite CAMS 492)

Eligibility

The program is open to all students with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average. Applications are considered on a continuous, first-come, first-served basis. Students are encouraged to apply early, as enrollment is limited. All students must meet the course prerequisites listed above and must be interviewed by the faculty member responsible for the application process.

Faculty

Dr. Susan Redford is a faculty lecturer at Penn State. She is the author of numerous articles and The Harem Conspiracy: The Murder of Ramesses III. As director of the Akhenaten Temple Project's Theban Tomb Survey since its inception in 1992, she has mounted annual expeditions to the Valley of the Nobles.

Expenses

The total program fee includes two components: tuition (based on the number of credits) and a class fee (based on activities and location). All students will pay in-state tuition for 2008 Summer Abroad programs.

Tuition (6 credits)

$3,318 in-state/out-of-state

The University reserves the right to revise the schedule of tuition and charges without further notice. For more information on tuition, visit http://tuition.psu.edu/.

Class Fee

The class fee of $2,195 includes room, board, and transportation to field sites, field manual for the course, and all costs related to the excavation.

Total Program Fee

The program fee of $5,513 includes tuition as well as the class fee.

Financial Aid

For alternative grant, loan, and minority and Whole World scholarship information, visit Education Abroad Financial Aid and Scholarship page.

Refunds

All cancellations must be received by the conference planner, in writing, by mail or fax. Do not use eLion; it does not remove you from the class, and you will be held responsible for all fees. Full refunds minus the $1,000 application fee will be made for cancellations received at least thirty days prior to the first day of the program. Refund requests made after that time will not be honored, and the participant or sponsoring organization will be responsible for the fees.

Expenses NOT covered are:

passport
personal expenses
round-trip airfare (approximately $1,500 plus tax)

Information Technology Fee: 1 to 4.5 credits, $53; 5 to 8.5 credits, $106; 9 or more credits, $159

For passport information, visit http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/index.html.

How to Apply

The Student Support Initiative for Penn State undergraduates enrolling in our Summer Education Abroad programs will continue for summer 2008 . If you would like to be considered for such an award, please indicate this in your short essay, giving the reasons why you should receive financial assistance.*

All applicants must send in the application form. To register, complete the Adobe.pdf printable registration form or the Word.doc printable registration form and return it with:

the $1,000 application fee (nonrefundable unless applicant is not selected) to be applied toward the class fee
*a short essay (course background, previous travel, etc.)
a current, unofficial transcript
a sealed letter of recommendation form from your adviser or a faculty member with whom you have studied
8 photos (the size needed for a passport application)
copy of the data page of the passport

All applicants will be screened by the Office of Judicial Affairs.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 16, 2008

Return all items together to:

Summer Education Abroad Programs
The Pennsylvania State University
225 The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
University Park PA 16802

Cancellation: The University may cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund registration fees but cannot be held responsible for any other related costs, charges, or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines or travel agencies.

Access: Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing special accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the conference planner at 814-863-5170.

Space may be available after the application deadline. Please contact the conference planner to determine availability and/or to be added to the waiting list.

Contact Us

Regarding program content:
Dr. Susan Redford
The Pennsylvania State University
108 Weaver Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-8945
E-mail: afr111@psu.edu or
parennefer@yahoo.com

Regarding application process:
Judy Meder, Conference Planner
The Pennsylvania State University
225 The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-5170
Fax: 814-863-5190
E-mail: SummerAbroad@outreach.psu.edu

Regarding financial aid:
Office of Student Aid
The Pennsylvania State University
314 Shields Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-6301

For alternative grant, loan, and minority and Whole World scholarship information, visit the Education Abroad Financial Aid and Scholarship page.