welcome

ANT330B: The Rudabanya Field School

Welcome to the home page of The Rudabanya Field School, a palaeoanthropological field course administered by the University of Toronto in collaboration with the Geological Institute of Hungary. This course involves fieldwork in the world famous locality of Rudabanya, Hungary, and is a study in Great Ape and human origins. It is designed to introduce to students both the theory and methodology of palaeoanthropology.

The Rudabanya Field School course is run by Dr. David Begun of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto.

Click here to see views from the field

To navigate the site, please use the links on the left panel. To apply for the field schol, please go to the contact page for further instructions.

Announcement:  The Rudabanya Field School is now tentatively scheduled to run from June 13th to July 11th, 2013.  We will require a deposit of $1000 CND by April 2nd, and the balance of $2000 CND by May 3rd (your deposit is refundable if you drop out before April 2nd or do not get off the wait list).  

How to Apply: To apply for admission to the field school, please email me a brief, one page explanation of your reasons for wanting to excavate at Rudabanya. Include your university affiliation, year of study, email address and phone number. No prior experience is necessary. All we require is an enthusiastic desire to dig up fossils. If accepted, you will be instructed to fill out an application form and to submit it along with your deposit ($1,000) to Josie Alaimo, the undergraduate administrator in Anthropology. When the list of participants has been finalized we will have an orientation meeting at which all your questions will be answered.

Practical tips:  Travel to and from Hungary is very easy and safe.  You will be completely in our care for the entire duration of the field school.  We gather at the Geological Museum the day you arrive, and you will be put up in a hotel in Budapest on the first and last days of the field school.  We arrange all travel in Hungary. You are responsible for getting to Hungary and for your own health insurance, as well as any additional days you stay abroad. Upon acceptance, you will be given very detailed instructions on getting to the Museum and more details about the site.  We have never lost a student. You will be provided with maps and phone numbers, and you will find it very easy to get to where you need to go.

At the site you will be housed in a hotel (no camping).  We have a laundry service and bedding is changed every week.  You do not need to bring any bedding or camping gear, except perhaps your favorite pillow.  All dinners will be prepared by a local company under our supervision, and we will provide breakfast and lunch.

Required Field Gear 

  1. Notebook - The type is up to you but a standard spiral notebook will do.
  2. Backpack
  3. A retractable measuring tape (in centimeters/meters)
  4. Dustpan and dust broom (Rubbermaid makes a nice one with the dust broom attached to the pan)
  5. One or two small paint brushes (1-2 inches wide)
  6. A line level  (available at Home Depot, Home Hardware and Rona)
  7. Pens – your preferred basic writing supplies
  8. A small ruler or other straight edge
  9. Dental tools and/or a medium sized (~7 inch or so) flathead screwdriver (to be carried in your checked luggage only!) NB:  Dentists are a good source of used dental tools.

 

Any medication that you require

 

Suggested Field Gear

This list is offered as a guideline.  Only you know what you need, but bear in mind that you should bring only one bag or suitcase.  Pack light and bring as many multipurpose items as possible.  The work is often dirty, wet and strenuous, so bring appropriate clothing and check your vanity at the airport.    You may want to check out Value Village or Goodwill for work pants/shirts and plan to leave them in Rudabanya at the end of the season.

  1. 2-3 pairs work pants for excavation
  2. 2 pairs shorts for washing station (bathing suit optional)
  3. 5 - 6 shirts for excavation and washing station
  4. 1 long-sleeved shirt for excavation/washing station sun protection or cool day wear
  5. 1 sweatshirt, plus 1 rain jacket or poncho (ponchos work best)
  6. Water shoes or flip flops for washing station
  7. Sweat pants, shorts, lounge pants for relaxing at the hotel in the evening
  8. 1-2 casual shirts or T-shirts for relaxing at the hotel in the evening
  9. 2-3 nicer shirts for town visits and Budapest
  10. 1-2 pairs better pants for town visits and Budapest
  11. Sneakers (required for excavation) for everyday wear
  12. Personal items (10 socks and underwear, personal care items, 1 towel)
  13. Leatherman or other multipurpose tool or a small pocket knife (again, in your checked baggage only!)
  14. Knee pads
  15. Correction fluid (e.g. White-out) 
  16. Sunscreen
  17. Bug spray
  18. Hat or cap
  19. Water bottle
 

site content © david begun 2013
site design © weija chiang 2006
university of toronto, department of anthropology