Program Description

This archaeological survey project will focus on the largely undocumented and unexplored Gulf of Iskenderun (Hatay, Turkey), where the Cilician plain narrows to fifteen kilometers and combines three topographic features: seacoast, plain, and mountains. Cilicia, the largest plain in the eastern Mediterranean, functioned for millennia as an interface in the cultural and economic exchange between Aegean and coastal centers in the West and the interior empires of Anatolia, Syria, and Mesopotamia in the East. This region, a favorite haunt of pirates, has formed part of the Hittite, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Armenian, Crusader, and Ottoman empires.

Our fieldwork goals include the creation of an inventory of archaeological sites in the Issos and Iskenderun Bay coastal plains and a comprehensive database that documents natural and human-generated features of the landscape. The students will be trained and will participate in intensive archaeological surveys in selected landscapes, analyses of satellite and aerial photos, geomorphological studies, and GIS mapping.

Field trips to nearby archaeological sites, museums, and historic cities, such as Antioch, will be led by the project directors or Turkish archaeologists and scholars.

Accommodations: The expedition will reside at the Casa di Preghiera e di Spiritualità "Madonna Assunta" in the mountain resort of Güzelyayla. The rooms will be dormitory-style accommodations with two students per room.

Courses Offered

Choose any combination of courses for 6 credits.

CAMS/ANTH 499A Landscape Archaeology (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the basics of archaeological surveys. For several hours a day the students will participate in daily pedestrian field surveys that entail the identification, mapping, and documentation of sites. Afternoon laboratory sessions (two hours per day) will include processing and analysis of artifacts and data entry. Classroom sessions will introduce students to survey methods, mapping, and the archaeology and geology of the region.

CAMS/ANTH 499B GIS for Archaeologists (3 credits)
This course gives students a hands-on introduction to the use of GIS programs in archaeological research. Topics to be covered include map projections, coordinate systems, vector and raster data, basic attribute management, spatial analysis, and GIS data modeling. A personal notebook computer is required.

CAMS 597 Advanced Landscape Archaeology (3–6 credits)
This course is designed for students with prior archaeological field survey experience. Students may register for this course only with the permission of the instructor and director of the project.

Independent Study credit is possible with the permission from the instructor.

Eligibility

The program is open to all students with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average. Applicants are considered on a continuous, first-come, first-served basis. Students are encouraged to apply early, as enrollment is limited.

Faculty:

Dr. Ann E. Killebrew, co-director of the archaeological survey project in the Gulf of Iskenderun in eastern Cilicia, is an associate professor of archaeology in the Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies and the Jewish Studies Program at Penn State. She has directed several excavations in Israel and participated in archaeological expeditions in Egypt and Turkey. She is a noted expert on cultural interconnections in the eastern Mediterranean region and has authored and co-edited several books and numerous articles.

Peter van Rossum, a research affiliate and doctoral candidate in anthropology at Penn State, has extensive archaeological experience in Mexico and the United States. For the past decade he has served as the GIS/database coordinator for numerous archaeological, historical, and heritage projects. At Penn State he teaches GIS courses designed for archaeologists.

Expenses

The total program fee includes two components: tuition (6 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 $2,500 includes room, board, transportation to field sites, textbooks for the course, field trips, research visa, residency permit, and all costs directly related to the survey.

Total Program Fee

The program fee of $5,818 includes tuition as well as the class fee.

Financial Aid

For alternative grant, loan, and minority and Whole World scholarship information, visit the 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)
personal notebook computer required for course

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

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

APPLICATION DEADLINE: November 20, 2007

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. Ann E. Killebrew
The Pennsylvania State University
319 Weaver Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-231-7780
Fax: 814-867-6294
E-mail: aek11@psu.edu

Regarding application process:
Carolyn Andersen, 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 scholarship information, visit the financial aid and scholarships page.