Underwater Archaeology in Malta

The Project and the Course

General Information

Project type: Underwater archaeology field school, underwater excavations & marine geophysical survey.     

Project venue: Participants will stay in a hotel close to the University of Malta campus, in the centrally located town of Msida. Lectures and workshops will be held at the offices of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (Valletta) and the Department of Classics and Archaeology

About the project: Due to diving regulations in Malta, only divers who hold Advanced Open Water certificates (or equivalent) are allowed to dive without an instructor. While there will be an instructor as part of the field school staff, it is recommended that applicants hold at least AOW or higher to ensure that their dive time will not be limited.

In addition to underwater excavation techniques, the field school will also provide students with instruction on the following:

• Diving safety, operations, and equipment
• Documentation techniques (the use of grids, offset measurements, scaled drawings, and photography)
• Photogrammetry (data acquisition and processing)
• Remote sensing surveys (AUV operation employing side-scan)
• Historic ship graffiti (context, survey, and documentation)
• Conservation techniques
• GIS (creating, importing, and analysing spatial data)
• ROV operation

Lectures will also provide students with an overview of Maltese archaeology, ancient harbours and port structures, heritage legislation, site formation processes, etc. Lectures and workshops are further supplemented by guided visits to nearby important museums and sites (ex., Tas-Silġ, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, National Museum of Archaeology, Malta Maritime Museum, etc.)

BHF Partners in this project:  

• Superintendence of Cultural Heritage
• New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria
• Institute for Field Research

     

Field school director: Anton Motivans, Maritime Archaeologist, Executive Officer within the Policy, EU International Affairs and Underwater Heritage unit of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

Team members: Debra Camilleri, Archaeologist, Assistant Head of Policy, EU International Affairs and Underwater Heritage unit of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage; Michael Spiteri, Lead Diver, Senior Executive Officer of Repository and Site Projects, Administration and Support Services unit of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage

Application deadline: until the places are filled or May 14, 2026, at the latest

Number of field school places available: 8

Project language: English   

Academic credits available: Students can receive 9 ECTS credits through New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.

Minimum age: 18      

Special considerations: The project is not recommended for individuals with solar allergies or other medical conditions that may be exacerbated by intensive outdoor and underwater activities. The average May-June temperatures in the area are 25-35 ⁰C (77 - 95⁰ F) or higher. The average water temperature in the area in late May - June is 18-22 ⁰C (64 - 72⁰ F). The depth in the area of survey and excavations is 2 - 10 m (7 - 22 ft). Excavation and recording tools, as well as air tanks and diving weights, will be available at the site.   

Visa Note: Citizens of the EU, EEA, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand do not need entry visas for Malta. Those from countries not specified should check in advance if they require entry visas for either or both countries, and any associated costs will be the responsibility of the participants.

Special Requirements:

• Due to diving regulations in Malta, only divers who hold Advanced Open Water certificates (or equivalent) are allowed to dive without an instructor. While there will be an instructor as part of the field school staff, it is recommended that applicants hold at least AOW or higher to ensure that their dive time will not be limited.
• Applicants must have up-to-date DAN insurance, medical insurance, and repatriation. The participant should inform the project staff about any health issues, allergies, and food preferences.
• Participants should provide evidence (log book) of at least four dives within the year prior to the field school. If the participants do not meet this requirement, they must do two to four extra dives in Malta before the start of the field school with our diving centre partner at their own expense.
• Participants should provide their own diving equipment: diving suit (at least 5 mm wet suit recommended) with hood (or with a separate hood), BCD, regulator, mask, fins, snorkel, knife, boots, weight belt, etc.). Participants who do not bring their own diving gear can rent it from the partnering diving centre at a price up to 35 EUR per day (depending on the items rented). Cylinders and weights will be available on site.
• A laptop with Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• All participants are expected to prepare for the field school by reading the required readings listed below.
• Participants should bring clothes and toiletries suitable for warm and sunny weather, but should also prepare for rainy, windy and chilly days (although unlikely).

The Site 

This field school provides experience and training in underwater archaeology through participation in an ongoing research project – investigating the Late Roman Harbour at Marsaskala - along the South-Eastern coast of Malta. 

The geography of the site and consideration of site formation processes inform our understanding of the archaeological deposit and how it relates to the surrounding region historically. Importantly, it positions the bay as a maritime access point to the immediately surrounding Roman settlement, the more significant settlement at Żejtun, and the sanctuary of Tas-Silġ. Marsaskala is one of three sea access points for these inland sites, together with St Thomas Bay and Marsaxlokk Bay. The increase in shipping during the Punic and Roman periods, along with advancements in shipbuilding and navigation, meant that larger ships carrying goods were travelling greater distances and more frequently than ever before. At the outset of a long journey, it would be difficult to predict the destination’s weather at the time of arrival. Having an easily recognizable landmark (Tas-Silġ) and three bays that guaranteed at least one option for safe anchorage in any wind condition played an important role in the region’s maritime importance in antiquity and to this day (Grima, R. & Mallia, J. 2011, p.244).

The site in Marsaskala is the subject of ongoing study and many research questions about the site persist. With growing pressure from coastal development, it is more important than ever that there are continued efforts to investigate and document the site. Most of the material recovered dates to the 6th century and, to a far lesser extent, from the 3rd to 5th centuries. It has been suggested that the relative abundance of LR1 and LR2 amphorae could point towards the presence of a shipwreck. Although no ship construction has yet been found, this remains a major question that future work at the site aims to address.

The most recent excavations carried out at the site (Oct. – Nov. 2025) located a piled rock feature that could potentially be a harbour structure or ballast pile, several glass artefacts, an oil lamp, a variety of ancient fishing weights, and largely intact LR1 and LR2 amphorae.

The site represents an interesting case where research gaps, development proposals, and natural climate-driven impacts are all important factors. This will work to better prepare students for work on a complex site that has been both formed and threatened by a range of anthropogenic and environmental factors. This field school is suitable for beginners in the field and aims to broaden knowledge, refine skills and propel students to further their career in Maritime and Underwater Archaeology.

The Field School

The field school is designed to introduce students to theory and methods within the field of maritime archaeology to prepare them for future excavations or next steps towards further academic and/or professional pursuits. Participants will have the chance to learn about a broad range of topics and specializations within the field. This overview will provide them with a more complete understanding of the multi-disciplinary aspect of maritime archaeology and the many paths for specialization – whether that be excavation/fieldwork, remote sensing, heritage management, GIS, etc.

By the end of the program, students will be able to:

• Set up and dismantle an underwater excavation site (water pump, hoses, dredges, grids, photogrammetry targets, etc.)
• Perform basic underwater excavation techniques
• Document a site by using a baseline and offset measurements to produce a scaled plan and profile drawings
• Document artefacts in situ using a camera, scale bar, and north arrow
• Collect data for 3D modelling and perform basic photogrammetric processing in Agisoft
• Assist with the deployment and recovery of AUVs and ROVs
• Recognize potential targets from side scan data
• Desalinate artefacts from a marine context
• Perform basic plotting and analysis in ArcGIS

In addition to these hands-on trainings, students will receive lectures on topics such as Maltese archaeology, ancient harbours and port structures, logistics and safety for deep-water projects, legislation, and site formation processes.

This will all be happening within the context of an active research project. This means that students will be contributing towards answering research questions while developing these new skills.

The Team

Field school director:   

• Anton Motivans, Maritime Archaeologist, Executive Officer within the Policy, EU International Affairs and Underwater Heritage unit of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

Team members: 

• Debra Camilleri. Archaeologist, Assistant Head of Policy, EU International Affairs and Underwater Heritage unit of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.
• Michael Spiteri. Lead Diver, Senior Executive Officer of Repository and Site Projects, Administration and Support Services unit of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage

The Program

The field school provides a minimum of 130 hours of fieldwork and training (minimum 10 dives), workshops, lectures and guided tours as follows:

Field Work

• Archaeological dive survey
• Setting up an underwater archaeological excavation (equipment, logistics, safety)
• Underwater excavation techniques
• Underwater documentation techniques
• Remote sensing survey (AUV)

Workshops

• Documentation techniques
• Photogrammetry (data acquisition and basic processing)
• Historic ship graffiti recording methods
• Conservation techniques
• GIS for underwater heritage management
• ROV operation

Lectures

• Introduction to the ancient harbour of Marsaskala (historical context and previous excavations)
• Diving safety and excavation operations/equipment
• Underwater archaeology of Malta
• Excavating at depth
• Ancient harbours and port structures
• Remote sensing techniques
• Legislation and legal protections for cultural heritage
• Historic ship graffiti
• Site formation processes

Guided Tours

• National Museum of Archaeology
• Malta Maritime Museum
• Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park   

• Tas-Silġ

Reading Background

Anastasi, Maxine, et al. “The Xlendi Bay Shipwreck (Gozo, Malta): A Petrographic and Typological Study of an Archaic Ceramic Cargo.” Libyan Studies, vol. 52, 2021, pp. 166–72, https://doi.org/10.1017/lis.2021.16.

Bethencourt, Manuel, et al. “Study of the Influence of Physical, Chemical and Biological Conditions That Influence the Deterioration and Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.” The Science of the Total Environment, vol. 613–614, 2018, pp. 98–114, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.007.

Bonanno, Anthony, et al. “Excavations at Tas-Silg, Malta: a Preliminary Report on the 1996-1998 Campaigns Conducted by the Department of Classics and Archaeology of the University of Malta.” Mediterranean Archaeology, vol. 13, 2000, pp. 67–114.

Fenwick, V. “Robert Newall’s Primary Record of the Prehistoric Ship Graffiti at Hal Tarxien, Malta: new thoughts on their significance.” International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, vol. 46, no. 2, 2017, pp. 415–426. https://doi.org/10.1111/1095-9270.12239

Flemming, Nicholas C., et al. Submerged Landscapes of the European Continental Shelf: Quaternary Paleoenvironments. 1st ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118927823.

Ford, Ben, Donny L. Hamilton, and Alexis Catsambis (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archaeology (2013; online edn, Oxford Academic, 18 Sept. 2012), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199336005.001.0001

Furlani, Stefano, et al. “Holocene Sea Level Change in Malta.” Quaternary International, vol. 288, 2013, pp. 146–57, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2012.02.038.

Galili, Ehud, et al. “Identifying Anthropogenic Versus Natural Submerged Prehistoric Landscapes: Two Case Studies from the Sicilian Channel.” Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, vol. 12, no. 11, 2024, p. 1981, https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12111981.

Gambin, Timmy, et al. “From Discovery to Public Consumption: The Process of Mapping and Evaluating Underwater Cultural Heritage in Malta.” Heritage, vol. 4, no. 4, 2021, pp. 2732–45, https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040154.

Gambin, Timmy, et al. “Making the Invisible Visible: Underwater Malta—A Virtual Museum for Submerged Cultural Heritage.” Remote Sensing (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 13, no. 8, 2021, p. 1558, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13081558.

Keith, Matthew E., et al. Site Formation Processes of Submerged Shipwrecks. Edited by Matthew E. Keith, 1st ed., University Press of Florida, 2016.

Pomey, P., & Boetto, G., “Ancient Mediterranean Sewn‐Boat Traditions.” International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, vol. 48, no. 1, 2019, pp. 5–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/1095-9270.12337

Travel, Accommodation & Practicalities   

Travel

The nearest air terminals: Malta International Airport is the only airport in Malta and is only 9km away from the accommodation.

How to get there? There are several options for transport from the airport to the accommodation. The easiest is ride-share services like Bolt or eCabs (with costs typically around 20 euros). The 117 bus or the 135 bus also connect the airport to the accommodation (more info on fares and ticket options can be found at: Fares - Malta Public Transport). All students are individually responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their trip to the host country, including booking flights and obtaining any necessary travel documents or visas (if applicable).

All participants will receive a travel info-sheet in advance with basic travel instructions and information how to get to the hotel. 

Visa Requirements: Citizens of the EU, EEA, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand do not need a visa to visit Malta. Citizens of all other countries may need a visa. The Balkan Heritage Foundation can provide an official invitation letter to facilitate the visa application process at the relevant embassy. For further details, please visit our visa information page. Malta is a full member of the Schengen Area and part of this borderless zone, allowing people to travel between Malta and other Schengen countries without passport checks at land borders. Holders of a valid Schengen visa issued by another Schengen country can enter Bulgaria using that visa.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation*: Participants will stay in comfortable rooms with two or three beds (bathrooms with shower and WC, TV, air-conditioning) at the Campus Hub in Msida, close to the University of Malta. Single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee. 

*Subject to change. May be substituted with similar level accommodation.

Meals: The welcome and farewell dinners are covered by the reimbursement payment. Students are responsible for their daily lunches and dinners and all meals on days off. There are several restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience shops close to the accommodation and the project team will recommend restaurants for different preferences (cuisine, cost, dietary needs).

Participants must pay additionally for extra days and for single room accommodation as well as for extra meals, beverages, services and products!   

Free Time & Trips

Free time: There are a lot of options when it comes to opportunities for sports and entertainment in Malta during the summer. Whether it be hiking, swimming, kayaking, live music, diving, museums, or nightlife, there is always something going on and, due to the small size of the island, it is usually easily accessible.     

Technicalities & Practicalities  

Insurance: The reimbursement payment does not cover insurance. It is necessary to arrange your own DAN insurance before your trip to Malta. The insurance must cover, as a minimum, the following risks: medical treatment in case of an accident or disease, as well as costs related to evacuation and repatriation. All EU citizens can use Malta's medical services as long as they can provide evidence of their home-country health insurance with a card/certificate, etc.

Weather: A southern European (subtropical) climate dominates the region, making early summer hot 25-35 ⁰C (77 - 95 ⁰F). Rainy and chilly days in this season are a rare possibility.

What to bring?

• Diving gear (except diving weights and tanks, which will be provided by the field school). If you do not wish to bring your own diving gear, you may rent these items from a local diving centre at a price of up to 35 EUR per day (depending on items rented)
• Your diving logbook
• A laptop (a powerful one) with Windows, macOS, or Linux
• A set of walking or hiking shoes for the excursions
• Clothing suitable for outdoor activities (consider weather conditions from hot and sunny to rainy and chilly)
• Wide-brim hat
• A small backpack (for your water bottle, snacks, camera, etc.)
• A light raincoat for possible rainy and windy days
• Medication - It is not necessary to bring over-the-counter medicine since you can buy all common types in Malta. It is recommended, however, that you bring any individual prescription medication in sufficient quantities for the duration of this program and make sure to have all your medication in your carry-on luggage while traveling.
• A converter for a UK-type electricity wall-plug, if needed.
• E-SIM or Data Roaming: We strongly recommend that participants purchase an e-SIM card with mobile internet tailored to their personal needs while in Malta, unless they have coverage through their data roaming plan. While the hotels provide internet access, we cannot guarantee its quality or reliability, which may include interruptions, excessive network load, or potential server issues.
• Good attitude for work, fun, study, and discoveries

The Cost  

All field schools are organized as non-profit initiatives by the Balkan Heritage Foundation. The expenses related to participation in the field school, including costs incurred by participants, are financed through reimbursement payments made by the participants themselves.

BHFS project reimbursement payment includes coverage for: educational and fieldwork activities, accommodation and meals, tools and materials, access to project readings, issuance of a Certificate of Attendance, administrative costs, and travel related to fieldwork and excursions included in the program, along with relevant entrance fees.

BHFS project reimbursement payment does not cover: travel expenses to and from Sofia, nor any costs associated with activities not included in the field school program. Additionally, it does not include medical products and services or any expenses related to medical quarantine (such as food delivery or accommodation).

The costs in USD are approximate. Please check the current exchange rates!

Early Bird Cost - until January 31, 2026:

The Early Bird Cost for the three-week project session is 5799 EUR/ approx. 6700 USD

Regular Cost - after January 31, 2026:

The Regular cost for a three-week project session is 6199 EUR / approx. 7150 USD   

Reimbursement Transfer Options:

- Bank transfer
- Online transfers via the Balkan Heritage virtual POS Terminal. VISA, MASTERCARD & MAESTRO cards are accepted.      
-  Wise money transfer

For further information, contact the Admissions Office at: [email protected]!

 Discounts off the regular cost:

* 5% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:

1. Participation in more than one BHFS project in 2026 (discount applies to the second, third, etc. project).
2. Membership in the Archaeological Institute of America.

* 10% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:

1. Participation in any BHFS project/s in the past.

* 12% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:

1. Group Participation (three or more people who participate together in one BHFS project in 2026). The discount is valid for each participant.

* 15% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost is available for:

1. Group Participation (three or more people, who participate in more than one BHFS project in 2026 (the discount is valid for each participant).
2. BHFS alumni who participate in more than one BHFS project in 2026 (discount applies to the second, third, etc. project).
3. BHFS alumni who attended a full project in the past and returned to the same project.

NOTE: 5% OF EVERY COST FOR THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE BALKAN HERITAGE PROTECTION FUND'S ACTIVITIES!

For more information about scholarships, low-cost flights, hotels, etc., please feel free to contact us or visit our recommended links.

Academic credits

US credit units are available to all students attending a 3-week or longer field school session. To obtain US credits and certification, apply and enroll directly through the Institute for Field Research (IFR), USA. They will be awarded 8 semester credit units (equivalent to 12 quarter units) through our academic partner, Connecticut College and will receive a letter grade. The tuition fee is included in the IFR admission fee.   

ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credit units are available for students attending European universities or a field school session shorter than 3 weeks. They shall enroll directly through the Balkan Heritage Field School. New Bulgarian University grants 9 ECTS credits for attending the three-week session. Transcripts of Records (ToR) are available upon request for an additional tuition fee. For details: Regulations for Obtaining Transcripts of Records.

Participants in the field school who do not need academic credit units are not expected to pay for them.