SEPE: Dig Opportunities
Excavation Opportunities in Egypt:
Core staff and student training and participation:The project is committed to taking experienced and trainee graduate students in Near Eastern/Egyptian archaeology and qualified specialists (e.g., ceramicists; archaeological artists; photographers; physical anthropologists). Although an emphasis is placed upon taking archaeology/Egyptology students from the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations (University of Toronto), students are also accepted from other departments/programs (e.g., Ancient Studies; Anthropology; Classics; Fine Art History; Museum Studies; Physics) and other universities (e.g., Brown University; University of British Columbia; UCLA; University of Cambridge; University of Utah; Yale University). Undergraduate students and others with specific skills to offer to the project (e.g., osteology; photography; artists) are encouraged to apply, but acceptance is dependant upon the availability of positions and each candidate's academic background, skills, and fieldwork experience. The project covers all costs within Egypt and often includes the airfare to Egypt (the latter depends upon the background and skills of each candidate).
Volunteering for Excavation Opportunities in Egypt:
The team composing the Survey and Excavations Projects in Egypt (SEPE) primarily contains qualified specialists and graduate students from Egyptological and Archaeology programs at North American and other institutions. Although a priority is placed upon selecting qualified specialists (e.g., photographers; artists; etc.) and graduate students in Egyptology and Archaeology from the nations and institutions providing funds and a supportive infrastructure for SEPE, there are some additional opportunities for participation in archaeological fieldwork in Egypt.
The project maintains a few volunteer positions for assistants who provide payments or donations (see below) to cover (a) expenses within Egypt and (b) the daily administrative and other expenditures required by the project in Toronto. Volunteers can also donate or provide payments for (c) their airfare cost to the project to cover their plane ticket (if they do not wish to make such arrangments independantly). Volunteer positions are limited, however, and do depend upon the approval of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and security clearances from the Egyptian Security Offices. SEPE cannot guarantee the acceptance of any volunteer applicant; the final decision rests with the Egyptian government. In the unlikely event that a volunteer not be granted security clearance, the project will refund the major balance of the participation payment (minus US$100 for administrative and other processing costs).
Should volunteers choose (1) to donate their participation fees to SEPE through the University of Toronto, donors can receive tax receipts for Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. However, with the issue of tax receipts such donations cannot be refunded. For more details on donating, see the section on donations or contact the appropriate officials per country. On the other hand, (2) the direct payment of volunteer fees to SEPE does not include a tax receipt, but allows the return of the volunteer fee (minus a $100 US administration fee) should a vounteer cancel (e.g., illness) or not receive security clearance from the Egyptian government. Direct payments can be made payable to SEPE and mailed to Dr. Gregory Mumford, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, 4 Bancroft Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1C1. Volunteers can choose to attend the excavations for as short a time as two weeks or any period of time (calculated at $80 US per day) extending up to ten weeks (see the participation guideline rates below):
Volunteer payment rates ($80 US per day plus airfare):
Two weeks: $1,120 US for in-Egypt costs; plus airfare (cost varies per year and according to departure point).
Four weeks:
$2,240 US for in-Egypt costs; plus airfare (cost varies per year and according to departure point).Six weeks: $3,360 US for in-Egypt costs; plus airfare (cost varies per year and according to departure point).
Eight weeks: $4,480 US for in-Egypt costs; plus airfare (cost varies per year and according to departure point).
Ten weeks: $5,600 US for in-Egypt costs; plus airfare (cost varies per year and according to departure point).
Volunteer benefits:
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Training in survey work, Egyptian ceramics, artifact registration, and excavation work (under the supervision of trained specialists). |
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Egyptological and archaeological guidance regarding recommended readings in preparation for the excavation season and other related assistance. |
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Guided field trips to museums and archaeological sites near the excavation area (e.g., Giza; Abu Sir; Saqqara; Dashur; Meidum; Buto; Tanis; Alexandria; Sinai; etc.). |
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Antiquities pass allowing free access to all archaeological sites and museums throughout Egypt (for the duration of the excavation season and depending upon changing SCA regulations; this pass excludes several tombs and the mummy room in the Cairo Museum). |
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Residency visa allowing substantial discounts on hotels and transportation in Egypt (for the duration of the excavation season and depending upon individual hotels). |
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Room and board coverage at the project accommodations (e.g., el-Mansoura; South Sinai). |
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Cross-cultural Interaction with Egyptian and bedouin peoples and culture with opportunities to learn and practice Arabic. |
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For more information, see the excavation participation information page (dig details). |
Submission requirements for all participants:
The SCA and Egyptian Security Offices require each team-member and volunteer to submit:
 | 10 recent passport size photographs (with the full name written on the back of each photograph), |
| two photocopies of the passport data page, |
| a one to two page resume/c.v. detailing various items (full name; date and place of birth; citizenship; marital status; current university/college/institutional affiliation and address; current profession; skills and employment history; educational history listing dates, places, and specialization; archaeological experience; most recent/important publications [if applicable]), and |
| A security clearance form (completed and signed). This material is collected by the project for dispatch to Egypt (normally in the Fall of each year). A sample form shows how to complete the security clearance form. |
Please return the above documentation to SEPE (address given below) who will complete the application process for the entire team.
The position of an assistant under the supervision of a qualified archaeological excavator or other specialist (e.g., ceramicist; surveyor; registrar; photographer) would provide invaluable assistance towards recording and processing materials during the course of the excavation season. In-turn, such assistants receive a certain amount of training in return, augmenting their existing skills. In order to enhance acceptance by SEPE, the SCA, or other archaeological projects, all persons interested in volunteering are encouraged to acquire archaeological experience and related skills from local or regional universities, colleges, community centres, and other heritage resource centres offering courses or volunteer work in archaeology and related skills. Archaeological Field schools in various countries provide further opportunities. See further the Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin (AFOB), from the Archaeological Institute of America, available through www.oxbowbooks.com/afob. In addition, two letters of reference will be requested (preferably from an employer and instructor), sent separately to the SEPE home institution (address listed below).
Owing to research and teaching commitments, and annual summer fieldwork operations, responses to written inquires may be delayed. For all inquiries, please direct mail to the following address:
SEPE (c/o Dr. G. D. Mumford)
Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations,
University of Toronto,
4 Bancroft Ave.,
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada, M5S-1C1
Fax: (416) 978-3305
E-mail: sepe@deltasinai.com or gregory.mumford@utoronto.ca
For persons interested in donating to the project, please consult the section on donations for further information regarding Canadian and U.S. tax receipts, or e-mail SEPE. Thank you for your interest in SEPE.
Participation in the Survey and Excavation Projects in Egypt:
For further information about arranging flights to and from Cairo, accommodation within Egypt, visas for Egypt, daily work schedule, safety issues, items to bring, and other information, please see Participation in SEPE-Part I. Part II covers information about the SEPE Student Research Program .