Students Grace Godfrey and Madison Robinson went on a trip of a lifetime for a forensic anthropology and archaeological dig in Romania and discovered more than they expected.
On a five-week trip, they were able to play a part in a long-running dig led by University of Derby Biomedical and Forensic Science lecturer Dr Kori Filipek.
Dr Filipek has overseen the excavation and analyses of the human remains at the site since 2013.
After joining the University of Derby in 2022, Dr Filipek was able to organise the rare opportunity for nine Derby Forensics students to obtain training in human remains recovery and analysis.
And it proved to be an unforgettable experience.
“I found the first bones of the field,” Madison said. “We knew the general area where one would be. I was scraping then I came across something. I remember messaging my Mum to tell her I’d found the first bone. It was crazy.”
Grace added: “It was amazing being on a site where you knew there was once life and doing the dig meant that we could find out so much information.”
Uncovering a lost culture
The dig led by Dr Filipek is a rescue excavation in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology and Art History, part of the Romanian Academy, and Transylvania Bioarchaeology, a non-profit organisation.
“I was initially approached by Romanian colleagues in 2012 to assist them with uncovering a lost culture that was at risk from being destroyed by building works. We set out to undertake this project to not only save the remains of these individuals but help understand Romania’s enigmatic past and help to create knowledge for Romanian professionals for the future,” Dr Filipek said.
“This type of professional experience is extremely difficult to obtain, yet incredibly important for the recovery of human remains in forensic, humanitarian and historical contexts. It’s so important that our next generations are equipped with the correct excavation skills and understand the appropriate procedures involved.”
Getting hands-on at the dig
The site the students worked on, a field surrounded by huge buildings, was thought to be first occupied by the Romans, but after the fall of the Roman Empire, unknown groups moved to the area and the team was working to identify who the people were and when they lived. The project leaders estimate there are almost 1,000 individuals buried within the area. Planned building work there was paused when the first bones were found.
“It was quite a big thing to discover the skeletons and to help with lifting them out,” says Grace.
For Madison, the trip allowed her to explore her passion.
“I’ve always had an interest in bones, and I really enjoyed the anthropology module we did last year. It’s given me more knowledge. I gained practical experience with how to look at bones and lay them out which has helped everything I’ve learned to stick.”
On top of splitting their time between being in the human remains lab and being out in the field, the group also had the opportunity to travel around Transylvania.
“We got to see the popular tourist spots, like the house where Vlad the Impaler was born, as well as rural areas of Romania like the Carpathian Mountains. Our tour guide gave us the history of where we were which was really cool,” Madison said.
Grace enjoyed seeing the country and experiencing the culture.
“It connected me emotionally with what I was doing in the dig and helped me to empathise with the remains that we found. I felt able to dissociate from what I was doing, but I still found it was crazy thinking they these remains were once real people. It made me think about the time they were living in and that it was completely different to now.”
"Like a kid at Christmas"
Grace and Madison had opposing feelings before travelling to Romania.
“The night before I was really excited, I couldn’t sleep! It was like being a kid at Christmas!” says Madison. “It was the first time I’d been abroad, and it was five weeks! But I wasn’t nervous at all. It was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I would’ve beaten myself up if I didn’t apply for it.”
However, Grace felt more reserved at first.
“I’m a home bird. I love being at home and I remember worrying that I was going to be on my own, but I was completely fine! It felt like a big thing to do on my own, but it’s the best decision I think I’ve ever made in my life. I keep thinking back now and wishing I was back there.”
More than a degree
Both Madison and Grace are keen to encourage more University of Derby students to go on study abroad programmes.
“I’ve been able to make connections and get my foot in the door with people that worked on the project that could help me with careers in the future,” says Grace.
“I feel like academically, it has given me more knowledge and experience of being out there in the field. This should help me when applying for a masters degree or a job.”
They also speak fondly of the bonds they’ve made with others.
“One of the best things, besides the information and knowledge you get, is the friendships you gain on experiences like this,” Madison said.
Grace added: “Being away together – it doesn’t force you to become friends, but you get to be around people with similar interests. Me and Madison just clicked and gravitated towards each other after not really speaking before. We also got to speak with and learn from participants from around the world, including America and Thailand. We’re all friends now and often message each other about things we’ve remembered, not just about the dig but the funny stories too.”
And their advice for anyone thinking of taking up a similar offer?
“Don’t be scared or think you can’t do it. You only have this opportunity once!” says Grace.
Madison keeps her encouragement simple: “Go on the trip!”
The five-week training for University of Derby was organised by Dr Filipek through the Turing scheme, the UK government’s funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world.
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