Portus 2015: logistics and organization
Hi everyone,
Here are some updates for the 2015 season. Not all arrangements are finalized, and I’ll keep updating it as we learn more. Please read through it carefully; you will want to have some of this info with you when you come (e.g. our contact numbers). Same goes for the handbook entries- you will find it useful to print out some of that and have it with you in Portus.
Working Arrangements
Work schedule
The Field School begins on Sunday June 21st, with a welcome dinner for all participants, and the last working day is Friday July 10th. The normal working day is from 7:30AM to 17:30PM, with a half-hour coffee break and a two hour lunch break. We will work five days a week, with Saturday and Sunday being days off. On two Saturdays field trips will be organized to sites and museums in the area- on Saturday June 27th we will go to Rome, to the Emporium area to see the Waterfront, Monte Testaccio and the surrounding area, while on Saturday July 4th we will be visiting Ostia. Sundays will always be free time to use as you like: explore the area, go to Rome or the beach. There is nothing organized on the last weekend of the field school in order to give you more free time to explore on your own.
On your first working day you will be given a full-day introduction to the site and the field techniques you will be using. This will include a Health and Safety briefing, followed by a site tour. You will be assigned to a particular trench and site supervisor on the excavation, who will be on hand to give you constant guidance. During the following weeks you will be given field tuition as you are rotated through different tasks, allowing you the chance to try your hand at all aspects of excavation. At the end of every week all participants will be kept up-to-date with overall site progress by means of a weekly site tour.
Domestic Arrangements
Accommodation
I can not confirm this season’s accommodation arrangements yet- we will either be back in the Episcopio (provided restoration of the monastery is finished in time), or will be staying in B&Bs in Fiumicino itself. In either case expect to share the room with one or two other participants, with 2 to 4 people sharing a bathroom. Bedding will be provided, in most cases towels as well, but I’ll have to confirm this to you later. In all B&Bs there should be a fully equipped kitchen at your disposal, as well as some sort of a common space and in some facilities for washing clothes. They should all have WiFi as well.
Catering
You will be taking breakfast in your B&Bs/the Episcopio before being picked up to go to the site.
Packed lunches are provided at the site, as well as unlimited quantities of bottled water. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served in the mid-morning break.
During weekdays and on Sunday evenings the whole team meets for a dinner in a local restaurant. Every evening there will be a set menu consisting of simple local fare, accompanied by water and coffee. Last year house white or red wine was included too, with those wishing to have other drinks having to pay for them, but we’ll see what kind of a deal we can negotiate this year. There are options available for vegetarians, and it is crucial that you make us aware of any dietary requirements in advance.
Fiumicino
Fiumicino is a little seaside town in the vicinity of Leonardo da Vinci airport. It has a variety of shops, restaurants, bars, banks, pharmacies and various other businesses that might be of interest to you. There is also a long stretch of well-maintained sandy beach for you to enjoy. Some knowledge of spoken Italian would be helpful as many of the people with whom you will be in contact in the town do not speak English. If you make a small effort to cover the basics you’ll find it rewarding. Fiumicino is safe and we have never experienced any problems, but usual common sense safety precautions should be taken. Please watch out for yourselves, your valuables and others.
Much of the town can be covered on foot. At the centre of the town there is a small bus terminal (Darsena) where one can catch a bus to Ostia and Parco Leonardo (large shopping centre). This bus passes by the Episcopio and you can catch it there. It doesn’t have a number, but the company is called Cotral and Parco Leonardo or PL should be written at the front. Tickets can not be purchased from the driver, so you need to stock up on these when in Fiumicino- they are sold at newsagents’ and tobacco shops and only single tickets are available. You can use this bus to go to Rome, via Ostia (by catching a metro from Ostia Antica, Lido Nord or Lido Centro stops). Be aware that buses don’t run all night, with the last one going around 23:00, so make sure you don’t end up stranded. One can also catch a taxi, and the local service is:
UTF – Unione Taxi Fiumicino, Tel +39 06.6583629, +39 06.6521732, Mobile +39 342 3589750
Contacts in Fiumicino
There is a post office in the town, as well as a number of payphones and internet cafes. Public phones in Italy use a system of phonecards but it is also possible to make credit card calls from public phones.
Emergency messages can be made via the British School in Rome (+39 (0)6 3264939) or by contacting one of the project members:
Dragana Mladenović: +44 7800 634503
Federico Ugolini: +44 7445 279335
Simon Keay: +44 7808 935533
Graeme Earl: +44 7787 522070
Logistics
Getting to Portus
Each participant is to arrange their own travel to Rome. You will be picked up from the Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) airport, whether you are arriving there by plane, by car or by train from Rome, depending on your itinerary and plans prior to the Field School. Field School participants should arrive on Sunday June 21st. The last working day is Friday July 10th, and you can chose to leave either on Saturday 11th or Sunday 12th. In either case we will give you a lift to the Fiumicino airport. All transportation during your stay that is related to Field School activities (daily transfer to and from the site, transfer to and from the airport, and well as field trips) is arranged and you will incur no further expense for these.
You will be picked up from the Arrivals of Terminal 3. When we compile your travel information we’ll let you know your pick up time.
At the site
The site of Portus is at the outskirts of Fiumicino, but it is not easily accessible so we will be making daily commutes by minibuses to the site. You will be picked up from your B&B/the Episcopio in the morning and returned there after the working day ends.
While leaving the site during the day can be difficult, the facilities at the site are surprisingly adequate, thanks to the old Hunting Lodge (Casale) that Dukes Cesarini constructed at the time when the site was their pleasure garden. This building serves a number of purposes today, and we use it for finds processing, lectures, recording and documentation work. It is also where we take lunch breaks. The Casale is equipped with running water, toilets, and some kitchen facilities.
What to bring
In order to comply with Italian Health and Safety Law it is ESSENTIAL that each of you bring the following:
- Small First Aid Kit
- Easily removable labourers’ boots with steel/iron toe-cap
- Stout gardening gloves
- Your own water bottle
- a trowel (WHS 4 inch or a Marshalltown 5 inch are usual standards)
- Proof of medical insurance (see below for details)
- A general statement from your doctor that you are in sound health and able to work on the excavation. This statement must show that you have had all of the following recently: An ECG test (Electro-Cardiogram), a Peak-Flow test and an anti-tetanus injection/booster. A cover letter and a template of a statement can be downloaded from the Forms page.
If you do not have any of the documents mentioned above, the first aid kit or appropriate footwear Health & Safety Law does not allow you to come on to the site. Kris Strutt, who is our Health and Safety Officer, has to receive a scan of all necessary documents before we leave.
The weather is likely to be hot and dry. As the sun is strong a hat and some high protection sunscreen are essential. An insect repellent is also recommended as mosquitoes can be a nuisance in the evenings. All of the essential working and protective equipment will be provided, but some prefer to have their own writing and drawing utensils. Both overseas and UK participants are reminded that any electric equipment that you bring will require a plug adapter in order to be used in Italy. Those coming from overseas should make sure that the plug adapter contains a power converter as well, as voltages in Europe and different from those in e.g. the US.
It is always a good idea to bring your University cards that can be used to gain entrance or a discount on many sites and museums.
Insurance and Medical
As mentioned before all participants must show proof of a current medical insurance in order to comply with Italian safety laws. Those resident in the European Union can easily obtain EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). It is free of charge and one can apply online or by mail (UK residents can submit an application via the NHS website or get appropriate forms in any post office- see Kris’ separate post on this). All other participants must take out their own policies and bring appropriate documentation to the site.
In terms of travel insurance, all participants are covered by the University of Southampton policy for Travel and Public Liability. This is valid for the three weeks of the Field School only- if you plan to travel around before or after we would recommend that you take out an additional travel insurance to cover your personal needs.
Money and valuables
Although your accommodation and meals are covered you will want to bring some money for incidental expenditure. Cash machines in Fiumicino and Rome accept all major credit/debit cards, as do local businesses. Traveller’s cheques can be cashed in any local bank, several of which can be found in Fiumicino.
We have no unquestionably secure place for your passports, laptops, cameras and other valuables. They will be your own responsibility. Please consider this when you decide what to bring with you.
Health and Safety
Excavations are potentially dangerous places. Care should be taken at all times to avoid injury to yourself and others. Prior to your arrival you will be sent a project risk assessment, which you should read and send back to us signed that you have read it. A copy of this document is kept at the Casale and can be consulted at any point. Upon your arrival you will be given a full safety briefing and you will be expected to follow the project safety code at all times.
All accidents, including minor cuts, should be reported in the Site Accident Book which is kept in the Casale, as well as to our safety officer, Kris Strutt.
We’ll keep updating this page, but if you have any further questions please post a comment!