The non-profit Black Church Cemetery Project (established 2013) team and supporting institutions are pleased to announce that applications are open for the Biserica Neagră Bioarchaeology field school taking place from 30 June to 28 July 2019 in Gherla (Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania). Our mission is to promote and pursue the analysis of the Biserica Neagră skeletal assemblage through projects, field schools and the production of published work.

The Biserica Neagră Bioarchaeology Fieldschool is an intensive academic four-week programme supported by the non-profit Cultural Association ‘Hieronymus’ (Braşov) and the Institute of Archaeology ‘V. Pârvan’ (Romanian Academy, Bucharest) and offering students from any level the possibility to learn new skills and achieve hands-on experience on the unique medieval skeletal assemblage of the Biserica Neagră (‘Black Church’) cemetery, consisting of over 1,400 burials unearthed in the Medieval city of Braşov. Lectures, seminars and lab activities delivered by specialists and professionals on post-excavation processing, skeletal and dental anatomy, analytical methods, paleopathology, burial practices and bone photography and photogrammetry, will provide student participants with group and one-to-one training in a professional but friendly environment. Funds from students’ fees will all be directed towards their accommodation in hotels/apartments with WiFi, meals, learning activities, local transport, lab and teaching costs and weekend field trips to some of the most beautiful Transylvanian landmarks, including the gorgeous Braşov.

The programme will also offer to outstanding individuals opportunities for future collaborations with the Project, and in particular joint publications and further analyses on the Biserica Neagră human skeletal materials for their studies and/or research. On completion of the field school, a certificate of attendance will be issued and presented to each participant. References will be thereafter provided on request. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit and explore Romania, a country steeped in history, archaeology and breath-taking natural beauty.

Deadline for applying is 15 February 2019 and places are limited to a maximum of 10 participants, thus an early application is recommended. For any enquiries and further information, please get in touch with the lead instructor Dr Annamaria Diana, follow us on Facebook (@BCCPBioarchFieldschool) and Twitter (@BCCPBioarch), or visit the link below.

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Field school's sexual harassment policy as submitted

The Biserica Neagra Bioarchaeology Field school organisers, staff and supporting sponsors are committed to a zero tolerance policy towards sexual, verbal and any other form of harassment. Our is committed to providing a safe, caring and inclusive learning and working environment. Project staff and participants are expected to respect the rights of others, regardless of economic status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, language group, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability. Disrespectful and inappropriate behaviour causing distress and/or an unjustified disruption of the activities will not be condoned. The organisers reserve the right to ask a Participant to withdraw at any time if conduct or behaviour jeopardises the welfare of any participant or the fulfilment of the objectives and the goals of the project.