Swiss International Summer School for Alpine Archaeology: 12th–18th July 2026
Neanderthal Landscapes
The Universities of Bern and Zurich are organising the seventh Swiss International Summer School for Alpine Archaeology (SISA) from 12th–18th July 2026. This year’s summer school will take place in the Alpstein massif (Appenzell), in St. Gallen, in the Zurich area, and in the Jura mountains (Neuchâtel). The link between these various regions is that they were all inhabited by Neanderthals in the Middle and Late Pleistocene.
Finds from Alpine and Jura caves (Wildkirchli, Cotencher) as well as various lowland areas attest to the presence of humans within specific climates and environments, in which large mammals such as cave bears and mammoths played important roles, not least as game animals. Research on Neanderthal landscapes includes a broad variety of anthropological, archaeological and ecological approaches.
SISA 2026 aims to address Neanderthal landscapes through methodological training led by keynote speakers, site visits (caves and museums), and in-depth discussions of core research topics
Topics:
- Geology, glaciology, natural history
- History and documentation of research
- Cave environments, stratigraphy, dating methods
- Animal bones, stone tools
- Pleistocene vegetation and fauna
- Neanderthals in Europe
- Human-animal relationships
Programme:
12.07.: Arrival of participants in Weissbad
13.07.: Topic presentations, site visit to Wildkirchli cave
14.07.: Topic presentations, behind the scenes at the Museum of Culture St. Gallen and the Natural History Museum St. Gallen
15.07.: Visit to the Mammoth Museum Niederweningen, topic presentations, transfer to La Tène
16.07.: Topic presentations, site visit to Cotencher cave
17.07.: Topic discussions
18.07.: Departure of participants from La Tène
Teaching team (invited experts):
Prof. em. Adrian Pfiffner, University of Bern; Geology, Glaciology, natural history
Prof. Dr. Philippe Della Casa, University of Zurich; Paleolithic in mountain environments
Dr. Rouven Turck, University of Zurich; site research, Paleolithic
Dr. Julia Schönicke, University of Zurich; Paleolithic, cave environments
Philipp Baumann, MA University of Zurich; Geophysics, Wildkirchli
Regula M. Graf-Keller, Department of Monument Preservation and Archaeology Appenzell-Innerrhoden; Wildkirchli
Dr. Peter Fux, Museum of Culture St. Gallen; museum collection
Dr. Leandra Reitmaier-Naef, Museum of Culture St. Gallen, museum collection, ongoing research, middle paleolithic in eastern Switzerland
Danae Botsaris, Museum of Culture St. Gallen, ongoing research, Middle Paleolithic in eastern Switzerland
Dipl. Phil. Fabio Wegmüller, University of Zurich; Paleolithic stone tools, works at Mutzig (FR)
PD Dr. sc. nat., Dr. med. Martin Häusler, University of Zurich; Neanderthals, biological anthropology
Dr. Matthias Meier, Natural History Museum St. Gallen; museum collection
Dr. Madeleine Geiger, Natural History Museum St. Gallen, museum collection, museum history
Dr. Martina Pacher, Natural History Museum St. Gallen; zooarchaeology, ave bears, Pleistocene fauna
Dr. Heinz Furrer, University of Zurich; Niederweningen site, mammoths, Pleistocene fauna
Prof. Dr. Marco Peresani, University of Ferrara; Neanderthals, Middle Paleolithic, cave sites
François-Xavier Chauvière, Office of Heritage and Archaology Neuchâtel; research at Cotencher cave
Dr. Judit Deák, Office of Heritage and Archaology Neuchâtel; stratigraphy, environement
Dr. Mathieu Luret, University of Neuchâtel; human-animal relationships, zooarchaeology, Moustérien
Dipl. Sci. Donat Fulda, ETH Zurich; Jura geology, landscape history
Cooperations:
Museum of Culture St. Gallen (Kulturmuseum St. Gallen)
Natural History Museum St. Gallen (Naturmuseum St. Gallen)
Mammoth Museum Niederweningen (Mammut Museum Niederweningen)
Laténium – Archaeological Parc and Museum of Neuchâtel (Laténium – Parc et musée d’archéologie de Neuchâtel)
Office of Heritage and Archaology Neuchâtel (République et canton de Neuchâtel)
Specialist Department of Monument Preservation and Archaeology Appenzell-Innerrhoden (Fachstelle für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Appenzell-Innerrhoden)
Organisational unit:
University of Zurich, IAKA Prehistoric Archaeology Division
Museum of Culture St. Gallen (Kulturmuseum St. Gallen)
Intended for:
PhD and advanced MA with special interest in mountain, landscape and environmental archaeology; geography, paleoecology
Location:
Various, from the Alpstein massif across the Swiss Plateau to the Jura mountains.
Dates:
12th to 18th July 2026.
Lodging:
12.07. – 14.07 Group house in Weissbad (AI)
15.07 – 18.07. Group house in La Tène (NE)
Deadline:
Please send your CV and a short letter of motivation by 12th April 2026.
Deadline extended until the 1st of May 2026.
Participation fee:
300 CHF
Accommodations, Transfers throughout the week and meals included
Contact:
Danae Botsaris SISA2026@iaka.uzh.ch
Flyer: