This summer, Nicole Spangler, a Classics and History major, took her passion for the ancient world to new depths—literally—by joining an archaeological field school at the Roman site of Aguntum in Austria.

Located in the Eastern Alps, Aguntum offers a rich landscape for archaeological exploration. Spangler spent several weeks excavating Roman-era structures and artifacts, gaining firsthand experience in both traditional and technical aspects of the field. Her work included photogrammetry, GIS mapping, and archaeological report writing, providing a well-rounded introduction to professional fieldwork.

“Being at Aguntum was super super fun,” Spangler shared. “It gave me a lot of hands-on experience excavating, as well as experience with the more technical aspects of archaeology... It was really rewarding to watch your hard work culminate in archaeological finds and visible results.”

Spangler’s time at Aguntum not only deepened her understanding of Roman history but also strengthened her practical skills in archaeological research. Her experience highlights the value of field schools in bridging classroom learning with real-world discovery.

Her participation in the program was made possible through the generous support of the Penelope Biggs Travel Award, which helps students pursue international academic opportunities in the field of Classics.