Pella Volunteer Scheme

An opportunity to work on the excavations at Pella
Over the last 30 years we have provided members of the general public with an opportunity to work on the University of Sydney’s excavations at Pella in Jordan.
A Pella Volunteer working at the site in 2019.

A Pella Volunteer working at the site in 2019.

In conjunction with the Pella Excavation Project, we have enabled people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the unique atmosphere of working on an archaeological dig. 

January-February 2025 excavation

Soon we will be accepting expressions of interest for the January-February 2025 excavation season at Pella, when we will further investigate:

  • The MBA Palace (Area 32) uncovered in 2023, and aspects of the LBA palace (perhaps its entrance) immediately above
  • The LBA monumental architecture uncovered in 2023 at the base of two soundings (Area 28), west of the main south tell exposure.
  • The northwest corner of the huge EBA fortification system (Area 34) on Tell Husn
  • The eastern enclosure wall and gateway of the Mameluke period civic/military complex (Area 23) on the central mound. 

Finds from the most recent season include alabaster vessels, ceramic chalices, pottery zoomorphic figurines and a complete ivory wand from Iron Age pits, and an alabaster bulls-head protome (from a ceremonial mace), a cylinder seal of a temple, and a column base, all perhaps associated with a nearby Early Bronze Age civic building.


Volunteer information

The dates of the 2025 Pella Season are:

  • Group 1: 05-23 January 2025
  • Group 2: 26 January to 13 February 2025

The cost of participating in either group is $6450 (To Be Confirmed)

The fee includes food and board (and, hopefully, a lot of fun!) for the three weeks you will be at the Pella site, as well as internal transport to and from the site.

We do not arrange group bookings as most volunteers tend to have travel plans before or after their time with us at Pella. If you are interested in working at the important and beautiful site of Pella, please fill in the Pella Application form.

More information

E   neaf.archaeology@sydney.edu.au
P   +61 2 9114 0921
Volunteer Coordinator,
    Pella Volunteers
    NEAF School of Humanities, A18
    The University of Sydney 2006 

Contact us


Volunteer Coordinator

Address
  • Pella Volunteers, NEAF, School of Humanities, A18 University of Sydney, NSW 2006