Monte Testaccio Archeology Field School, Rome

Excavating the amphora mountain of Rome. The unassuming grassy mound just outside Rome's bustling centre is actually the world's largest archive of ancient Roman commerce, a manmade hill that stores trade secrets spanning 300 years.
Heralded as one of the most important research programs about Roman epigraphy, economy, and commerce today, Monte Testaccio combines the efforts of the University of Barcelona and ArchaeoSpain to study an artificial mound created by centuries of discarded amphorae, many of which still bear the markings of the contents and the exporters who transported them.
The Testaccio neighborhood borders the center of Rome, but it lacks the chaos of the rest of the city, making it a great place to walk around and enjoy when there's free time. Most of Rome's historical monuments are within walking distance or accessible by bus, tram, or metro. Just over the Aventine Hill is the Circus Maximus and the gateway to the Forum and the Colosseum.