Archaeological Discovery: Classics Student Unearths Ancient Roman Villa in Portugal, Delving into the Rich History of the Past
Georgetown Student Unearths Roman History in Portugal
Caroline Sewell (C'27), a double major in classics and neurobiology at Georgetown University, recently spent her summer in Portugal uncovering the secrets of a Roman villa. The Santa Susana Archaeological Project, located near Redondo, is focused on excavating a countryside estate that served agricultural and social purposes in Roman society and dates back to as early as the first century B.C.
The project, which aims to provide valuable insights into Roman rural life and material culture, uses advanced tools such as ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, and excavation techniques to study the site. Over years of excavation, the team has found fragments of artifacts related to cooking, eating, food storage, and construction, shedding light on daily life, economic activities, and social organization in Roman provincial settings.
For Sewell, the opportunity to touch artifacts that ancient Romans used was a surreal experience. She likens the process of not finding anything in archaeology to her work in neurobiology, where sometimes you do everything and still don't find anything.
Sewell's research in the He Lab at Georgetown focuses on studying the role of neuronal membrane proteasomes and their effect on learning. The summer project was funded by a gift to support summer student research experiences from John Brozovich (C'05).
While Sewell does not plan to pursue an archaeology career, she finds the experience complementary to her studies in the humanities and sciences. She stated that her summer in Portugal enabled her to see what she is studying at Georgetown in a more connected way.
Prior to her archaeology project, Sewell had been studying Latin since the seventh grade. Her fascination with Latin America led her to spend her summer researching in Ecuador.
The Santa Susana Archaeological Project exemplifies the careful and precise nature of archaeological work, which is inherently destructive but necessary to uncover historical contexts. Through this project, Sewell has contributed to advancing archaeological methods and enhancing knowledge of how Romans lived and worked on their estates during the early imperial period.
After completing her archaeology project, Sewell returned to Georgetown to continue her research in the He Lab. Her unique combination of classics and neurobiology studies promises to yield further fascinating insights in the future.
[1] Source: The Santa Susana Archaeological Project website, https://santasusanaarchaeology.com/
- As a double major in classics and neurobiology, Caroline Sewell (C'27) aims to combine her interests in the humanities and sciences, including exploring potential connections between her research in the He Lab at Georgetown and her experience at the Santa Susana Archaeological Project.
- While Sewell may not pursue an archaeology career in the future, her summer experience excavating a Roman villa in Portugal provided valuable insights into Roman rural life and material culture, which may influence her academic interests in cultural contexts and home-and-garden practices of the past.
- The Dean of the Georgetown University faculty is encouraged to consider offering more courses or internship opportunities that support students interested in home gardening and the connection between ancient agricultural practices, as demonstrated by Sewell's research at the Santa Susana Archaeological Project, and modern lifestyle choices.
