Volunteer Scheme
Archaeology in
Central Asia
September 2008
25 August - 15 September
Be part of an amazing new discovery!!
Share in the thrill of uncovering a newly identified collection of Central Asian wall paintings as a volunteer on the University of Sydney excavations in Uzbekistan. Follow this up with a magnificent `once in a lifetime` tour of the Silk Road cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva.
No previous experience is needed. Just sign up and join in. We live in purpose built excavation headquarters in scenic countryside next to the ancient walled city of Kazakl'i-yatkan. The house has dormitory style accommodation, mains water and electricity, hot showers and outside 'squat' toilets. A cook and cleaning lady look after the house. The temple/palace at Kazakl'i-yatkan has spectacular painted plaster and moulded stucco decorated with gold leaf. Stone column bases inside and out give hints of the former splendour of the architecture. Volunteers work alongside our trained excavation staff and help in the excavation of buildings and artefacts, cleaning and processing of finds and recording of evidence. Weekend trips are arranged to spectacular local monuments such as the Kushan city of Toprak-kala and the mountain citadel of Ayaz-kala. After two weeks on the excavations, the trip continues overland to Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand.
Life as a Volunteer Clink on this link to find out more about what to expect as an archaeological volunteer.
Participants from all destinations worldwide are welcome. Non-Australian travellers will need to make their own flight arrangements to Tashkent. A letter of visa support will be sent to their nearest Uzbek consulate.
Price Au$4835 (US$4200) (GBP1990) per person ex. Bangkok. Single supplement Au$170 (US$150) (GBP70). Land only cost for overseas travellers Au$3985 (US$3640) (GBP1640). Click here for current conversion rates if dealing in another currency. For full itinerary and bookings, please contact Odyssey Travel (www.odysseytravel.com.au) . For all other inquiries, please contact USCAP
Preliminary Itinerary
Tashkent
1 night
USCAP 11 nights
Urgench
(Khiva) 1 night
Bukhara
3 nights
Samarkand 3 nights
Tashkent
1 night
Programme at USCAP site includes
Transport to
and from site
Visits
to local monuments with field staff
Experiences of local rural life
Evening with musicians and dancing girls