Volunteers' Programs

Since 2001 groups of international volunteers participate in the expedition investigating Chastiye Kurgany burial mounds and since 2002 – on a Khazar time fortress “Golden Hills”. In the coming season the expedition organized as last years by Rostov University, the Donskaya Arkheologia journal and Center for the Study of Eurasian Nomads (CSEN, USA), welcomes foreign and Russian volunteers on the
KHAZAR FORTRESS “GOLDEN HILLS” - 2005

WORK AND EVERYDAY LIFE. The international group consists of fifteen volunteers working under the guidance of experienced Russian archaeologists. The volunteers are assisted by Russian-English interpreters (one per a group), a doctor, cooks. We are living in a comfortable tent camp located in a grove. The work lasting from breakfast till lunch, is followed by lectures on the archaeology of our region, bathing in the river, games, treks to the country for those who wish, excursions, campfires and songs in the evenings. Two full-day excursions are organized during each session: to Rostov-on-Don, to the excavations of the ancient settlement Tanais, and to the old capital city of the Don-land Cossacks. The camp is not provided with electric power, yet flash-lights, oil lamps and campfires usually are convenient to all. The camp has summer shower with cool water. Sometimes we go to sauna. Our camp is organized in the principles of healthy ecological life. Loud electric music is limited.

There are THREE MEALS A DAY in the camp (plus one light snack during the excavation work). Our cooks take into consideration all the individual wishes of vegetarians and those who need special diets. The camp bus regularly takes all those who wish to a shop in the nearby village where they may buy ice-cream, beer, chocolate in bars, canned food, and personal hygiene products.

COST includes the travel from Rostov-on-Don to the field camp, lodging in tents, meals, sauna, lectures, excursions, museums, local trips, doctor's and interpreter's services. The travel to Rostov-on-Don and health or life insurance are not included. Contribution (tax deductible for Americans) should be paid to the Center for the Study of Eurasian Nomads (CSEN, USA)

TRAVEL. Rostov-on-Don has an international airport with regular flights from Istanbul, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Vienne, Rimini, Cyprus, and several flights a day from Moscow. Participants may arrive in Rostov a day or two before the beginning of the program (if they want), and the Russian hosts will help them see Rostov. Participants are responsible for their hotel and meals during this time. Participants will be met at and transported to the Rostov airport at the beginning and end of each session.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: None, training will be provided by Russian archaeologists.

SAFETY. Our camp is located at a great distance from Chechnya, on peaceful Russian territories (lower Don reaches). These lands are never flooded.

You may familiarise yourselves with the work and everyday life of our camps at the Golden Hills-2004, Golden Hills-2003, Golden Hills-2002, Chastiye Kurgany-2004, Chastiye Kurgany-2002 and Chastiye Kurgany-2001 web-pages, at our American partners' (CSEN) site http://www.csen.org and at the picture galleries of the voluneers who worked with us
http://dept-info.labri.u-bordeaux.fr/~dicky/RUSSIE/
http://www.uvm.edu/~jlippman/russia/

KHAZAR FORTRESS “GOLDEN HILLS” - 2005

CONTACTS:
Vladimir Klyutchnikov (director),
Olga Kolobova (manager)
Rostov-on-Don, Russia +7 (863-2) 513073
E-mail: don_archaeol@aaanet.ru

Dr. Jeannine Davis-Kimball
Center for the Study of Eurasian Nomads (CSEN)
577 San Clemente
Ventura, CA 93001 USA
Tele: and FAX: 805 653-2608
Website: http://www.csen.org
E-mail: jkimball@csen.org

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