Kaitie Romick, an undergraduate student majoring in anthropology at AU recently returned from attending an underwater archaeological fieldschool in Menorca, Spain and Naples, Italy.  Sponsored by the Sanisera Archaeological Institute -http://archaeology.institute/index.asp-  the fieldschool was split between 2 locations.  The first 10 days were spent on Menorca, one of the Balearic islands, where participants explored the Roman Port of Sanisera.  Kaitie reports that participants were taught underwater archaeology methodology and techniques to help them recognize the remains of ancient amphorae, anchors, and Roman shipwrecks.  The second half of the fieldschool took place in Naples, Italy at the Roman port of Portus Iulius which was subjiered due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.  Students identified artifacts and mapped structures in an area not previously studied. 

Kaitie notes that while the course fee includes PADI Open Water certification, she highly recommends that future participants have prior diving experience or already hold a diving certificate (PADI, SDI, etc) since certification requires 3 days which reduces the time available for actual archaeological research.

The Sanisera Archaeological Institute also offers a variety of fieldschool courses with different foci in Italy, Greece, the UK, France, Turkey, Portugal and Croatia.