The ancient site of Carissa Aurelia lies some 60km north of Cádiz in Spain. Thought to have been established around the 6th century BC, it remained an active settlement for several centuries. This long continuity as a settlement, which including many political turning points, makes it an attractive site for researchers across the globe. Assistant Professor Janine Lehmann from Kiel University has been studying the site for several years as part of an international, interdisciplinary research project alongside scientists from Cologne, Groningen and Seville. She was aware that colleagues at the University of Cádiz also had a connection to the site, and reached out to Darío Bernal-Casasola to explore possible collaboration opportunities. “Cádiz has a long history of work in the area including an archive of well documented older excavations,” she says. “We felt there was a lot to be gained in bringing together researchers involved in current studies and those with older excavations.”
With the support of the SEA-EU seed fund Darío and Janine organised a workshop on “Carissa Aurelia and its microregion” in early 2025. “The workshop brought together established and young researchers, and the inspiring, thought-provoking exchange around our shared research interest really opened the way for new collaboration and connection,” Janine says. One clear outcome from the workshop was the shared goal to further promote student exchange through participation in joint field projects. “We feel it is important to create opportunities for the next generation of archaeologists to cooperate and learn together. This will lay the groundwork for other collaborations and a closer, interdisciplinary exchange of our institutes in the future.”
The next joint research venture is a Spring school at the Carissa Aurelia site in early 2026, also supported by the SEA-EU seed fund. Six students from Kiel and Cádiz will benefit from the expertise of renowned specialists in the field of archaeology and archaeobotany, and together get hands-on experience participating in an archaeology survey. Excavation studies will be complemented by lectures and discussions around the research and history of the region. Janine and Darío look forward to the event and the additional networks that they’re sure will continue to grow as a result of their joint project. Janine says she’s thankful for the impulse the seed-funding grant has provided in establishing what she believes to be a long-term productive collaboration between Kiel and Cádiz. “The SEA-EU seed fund has been a great catalyst enabling us to explore synergies and develop long-term collaboration formats between the partner universities of Kiel and Cádiz” she says. “This has not only benefitted our understanding of the Carissa Aurelia site but also provides a unique opportunity for young scientists at an early stage of their careers.”
Read more about Janine here
More about the joint international workshop on Carissa Aurelia held in February 2025 here.
Information about the funded projects from the second round of Seed Funding from Kiel University.
