Internship Opportunity: Archaeological Exploration of Sardis
The Archaeological Exploration of Sardis, sponsored by the Harvard Art Museums, has an opportunity for Harvard undergraduate students to become Archaeological Interns for the 2026 excavation season in western Türkiye. Please see the flyers attached to this webpage for more information, or read more about the project below!
The team of about 80 archaeologists, architects, conservators, recorders, and specialists comes from all over the world. The schedule is strenuous and the weather often hot. The excavation season lasts two and a half months, from early June until mid-August. The Expedition covers round-trip airfare, room and board, and additional funds for travel within Türkiye. The intern will be required to take, before going to Sardis, one course with significant archaeological content related to the ancient periods, civilizations and classes of archaeological material covered and investigated by the Sardis Expedition. On site students will:
• Gain an understanding of the research goals, scope, and expected results of the campaign.
• Engage in a varied and meaningful learning experience with tasks that vary each week.
• Experience tutorial and educational activities (teaching workshops; lectures) focusing on topics related to Sardis and, more generally, to themes of the archaeology of the region.
• Receive training in specific skills or use of equipment.
• Take part in field trips to sites and museums in Türkiye including on-site presentations or short site/museum reports after the visit
• Be encouraged to write a short report on their on-site experiences
If you are interested in participating please email Bahadır Yıldırım, bahadir_yildirim@harvard.edu, a statement of interest, a current transcript, a resumé, and the names of two Harvard faculty as referees as soon as possible, and no later than the deadline of Monday, October 27. Decisions will be announced shortly thereafter, and we would need a commitment from you by mid-November, when the team list is finalized. There are also opportunities for graduate students. Please contact the Sardis office before the deadline of Oct. 27 for more information.