Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
20 Dec 2024
Feedback
20
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (3)




Find your perfect host
Details
Description
I'm an archaeologist working in research in the University of San Luis, Argentina. I finished my PhD in the University of Buenos Aires and a Posdoc at UNAM, Mexico. I have received volunteers for my fieldwork for several years and it has always been a wonderful experience.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can improve your Spanish and learn about Archaeology and local culture.
Help
FIELDWORK IN LOMA RICA 2025
The dates are not yet confirmed!! I will post the final dates in march 2025
Meeting Day: around April 20 in Santa María, Catamarca
Fieldwork: around April 21- May 10 (might be extended, but we request a commitment for the first two weeks)
----
Please contact for further details and tell me about your specific interest in this proyect.
----
We will conduct an archaeological dig for our research, with a very low budget but a lot of will and good vibes. The site is called Loma Rica de Shiquimil, you can find some information about it in the web as it is a very important archaeological site.
No previous knowledge is required, but if lots of fun to share with people of all kinds and make good friends. In total we will form a group of 10-20 people, between students, local volunteers and workawayers (FYI most participants speak only Spanish, i will be able to translate and give you directions for the digging in spanish or english).
You will receive basic archaeological training. It is a very serious task that involves contact with national and native cultural heritage, therefore much respect is demanded. It is also an exciting activity and you will know archaeological sites and have a real experience as an archaeologist.
Previous workawayers made this beautiful video about the experience:
-ask us for the link
The help involves: we wake up early and have breakfast at the house. We travel by car 5 km to reach the archaeological site. We have to walk for 10 minutes and reach the remains of an ancient village. We will be working until the afternoon on the summit. We have lunch and rest one hour at about 1 pm or to be determined with the group. The tasks involve digging, using shovels, trowels, sieve, carrying buckets, etc. As objects appears (fragments of pottery, bone, charcoal) we will draw and take measurements. We also take a lot of pictures for photogrametry purposes, with drone and hand camera. We also take sediment samples and in the afternoon we will come back to the house. In the base camp we will clean the findings and organize everything. We might also perform mapping work and search for new archaeological sites. We are also working with the local community in a new museum about Loma Rica, you will be also welcome to participate in this proyect.
Once in the house we will take dinner around 8 pm and shifts for cooking and washing dishes are required.
----READ THIS PART VERY CAREFULLY----
IT'S A VERY HARD WORK!!! We will be all day in the sun, heat and perhaps sandy wind. It's a very dry environment and no water on site. No toilet in the digging site, just the nature. We will always be in contact with the dirt, thorny vegetation and insects, so it is not recommended for allergy sufferers. Although accident insurance is hired for all the volunteers, it is the responsibility of each to take precautions and you need to have your own health insurance.
Must have appropriate clothing for the task as thick cloth trousers, hat, work or trekking shoes. Bring sunscreen.
You must be capable of carrying weight (10/20 kg).Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Portuguese: Intermediate
Italian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.Accommodation
accommodation in mixed dorm-style rooms, shared bathrooms. You can cook, wash clothes by hand and use refrigerator. No wifi on the premises. Its a very simple and rustic place, nothing fancy.
omnivorous daily meals are included: Breakfast, light lunch (in the archaeological site), dinner, snacks + fruits. Alcohol is allowed, but on behalf of each. Potable tap water.
special diets in behalf of each.
We ask help for cooking and to perform minimal housing.What else ...
Transportation: You must come on your own to the city of Santa Maria, Catamarca (It is two hours by bus from Cafayate and 4 hs from San Miguel de Tucuman) where I will pick you up, as we will be actually staying in the town of San José, 10 km south of Santa Maria.
If you are in Buenos Aires, best option is to go to city of San Miguel de Tucumán (also flights from Lima, Cordoba, Mar del Plata or Santiago de Chile).
options to San Miguel de Tucumán:
- flight: LATAM, Flybondi or Aerolineas Argentinas
- Bus: from Terminal Retiro (Buenos Aires) to Tucumán, several buses,
Then from San Miguel de Tucumán to Santa María: bus "transporte aconquija"
If you whant to keep travelling after this project, starting from San José you can reach touristic places, like Amaicha (25 km), Tafi (100km), Cafayate (80 km), and further away Cachi, Salta, Tilcara, etc. So you can easily keep your travel from there.
Safety: In the town there are basic health services. As we will be working in the field, it is not recommended for highly allergic people. Please have your own Health Insurance.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
WiFi is low during fieldwork
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (8)
No trabajaba en el campo de arceologia antes pero aprendí mucho y fue muy… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
No trabajaba en el campo de arceologia antes pero aprendí mucho y fue muy… read more
I started with almost no spanish and have learnt so… read more
Being able to participate in the archaeological dig was a very profound experience for me. The work was very interesting of course and I felt very privileged to be in contact with a place so rich in history. At times it was hard work but this was easily embraced as the… read more
Fue un placer de encontrar y de trabajar com Catriel, su equipo, los estudiantes, los otros volontarios y la gente de San José. Muchos buenos momentos y muchas buenas ondas.
Loma Rica es un lugar incredible y muy lindo. El trabajo es muy interessante.
Gracias a todos.
These 10 days spent with him passed too quickly, we did not know anything about archeology at the beginning, we were only very interested in the idea of helping an Archeologist in his work and we have learnt enormously on the ground. Catriel is very… read more