{"id":812,"date":"2026-02-20T12:34:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T12:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/?page_id=812"},"modified":"2026-04-15T08:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T07:05:00","slug":"sisa-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/sisa-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"SISA 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"724\" data-id=\"873\"  src=\"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3-1024x724.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-873\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3-1024x724.png 1024w, https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3.png 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Swiss International Summer School for Alpine Archaeology: 12th\u201318th July 2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Neanderthal Landscapes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Universities of Bern and Zurich are organising the seventh Swiss International Summer School for Alpine Archaeology (SISA) from 12th\u201318th July 2026. This year\u2019s summer school will take place in the Alpstein massif (Appenzell), in St. Gallen, in the Zurich area, and in the Jura mountains (Neuch\u00e2tel). The link between these various regions is that they were all inhabited by Neanderthals in the Middle and Late Pleistocene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Topics:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Geology, glaciology, natural history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&nbsp;History and documentation of research<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cave environments, stratigraphy, dating methods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Animal bones, stone tools<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pleistocene vegetation and fauna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neanderthals in Europe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human-animal relationships<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Programme:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>12.07.: Arrival of participants in Weissbad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>13.07.: Topic presentations, site visit to Wildkirchli cave<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>14.07.: Topic presentations, behind the scenes at the Museum of Culture St. Gallen and the Natural History Museum St. Gallen<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>15.07.: Visit to the Mammoth Museum Niederweningen, topic presentations, transfer to La T\u00e8ne<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>16.07.: Topic presentations, site visit to Cotencher cave<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>17.07.: Topic discussions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>18.07.: Departure of participants from La T\u00e8ne<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Teaching team (invited experts):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. em. Adrian Pfiffner, University of Bern; Geology, Glaciology, natural history<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Dr. Philippe Della Casa, University of Zurich; Paleolithic in mountain environments<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Rouven Turck, University of Zurich; site research, Paleolithic<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Julia Sch\u00f6nicke, University of Zurich; Paleolithic, cave environments<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Philipp Baumann, MA University of Zurich; Geophysics, Wildkirchli<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regula M. Graf-Keller, Department of Monument Preservation and Archaeology Appenzell-Innerrhoden; Wildkirchli<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Peter Fux, Museum of Culture St. Gallen; museum collection<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Leandra Reitmaier-Naef, Museum of Culture St. Gallen, museum collection, ongoing research, middle paleolithic in eastern Switzerland<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Danae Botsaris, Museum of Culture St. Gallen, ongoing research, Middle Paleolithic in eastern Switzerland<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dipl. Phil. Fabio Wegm\u00fcller, University of Zurich; Paleolithic stone tools, works at Mutzig (FR)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PD Dr. sc. nat., Dr. med. Martin H\u00e4usler, University of Zurich; Neanderthals, biological anthropology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Matthias Meier, Natural History Museum St. Gallen; museum collection<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Madeleine Geiger, Natural History Museum St. Gallen, museum collection, museum history<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Martina Pacher, Natural History Museum St. Gallen; zooarchaeology, ave bears, Pleistocene fauna<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Heinz Furrer, University of Zurich; Niederweningen site, mammoths, Pleistocene fauna<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prof. Dr. Marco Peresani, University of Ferrara; Neanderthals, Middle Paleolithic, cave sites<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fran\u00e7ois-Xavier Chauvi\u00e8re, Office of Heritage and Archaology Neuch\u00e2tel; research at Cotencher cave<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Judit De\u00e1k, Office of Heritage and Archaology Neuch\u00e2tel; stratigraphy, environement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Mathieu Luret, University of Neuch\u00e2tel; human-animal relationships, zooarchaeology, Moust\u00e9rien<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dipl. Sci. Donat Fulda, ETH Zurich; Jura geology, landscape history<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cooperations:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Museum of Culture St. Gallen (<a href=\"https:\/\/kulturmuseumsg.ch\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/kulturmuseumsg.ch\/\">Kulturmuseum St. Gallen<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Natural History Museum St. Gallen (<a href=\"https:\/\/naturmuseumsg.ch\/\">Naturmuseum St. Gallen<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mammoth Museum Niederweningen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mammutmuseum.ch\/\">(Mammut Museum Niederweningen)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lat\u00e9nium &#8211; Archaeological Parc and Museum of Neuch\u00e2tel (<a href=\"https:\/\/latenium.ch\/de\/\">Lat\u00e9nium<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/latenium.ch\/de\/\">Parc et mus\u00e9e d\u2019arch\u00e9ologie de Neuch\u00e2tel<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Office of Heritage and Archaology Neuch\u00e2tel (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ne.ch\/autorites\/DESC\/SCNE\/archeologie\/Pages\/accueil.aspx\">R\u00e9publique et canton de Neuch\u00e2tel<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Specialist Department of Monument Preservation and Archaeology Appenzell-Innerrhoden (<a href=\"https:\/\/ai.ch\/themen\/planen-und-bauen\/denkmalpflege\">Fachstelle f\u00fcr Denkmalpflege und Arch\u00e4ologie Appenzell-Innerrhoden<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Organisational unit:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>University of Zurich, IAKA Prehistoric Archaeology Division<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Museum of Culture St. Gallen (<a href=\"https:\/\/kulturmuseumsg.ch\/\">Kulturmuseum St. Gallen<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Intended for<\/strong>:<br>PhD and advanced MA with special interest in mountain, landscape and environmental archaeology; geography, paleoecology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Location:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Various, from the Alpstein massif across the Swiss Plateau to the Jura mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dates:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>12<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;to 18<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;July 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lodging:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>12.07. &#8211; 14.07 Group house in Weissbad (AI) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>15.07 &#8211; 18.07. Group house in La T\u00e8ne (NE)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deadline:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please send your CV and a short letter of motivation by 12<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deadline extended<\/strong> until the 1<sup>st<\/sup> of May 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Participation fee:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>300 CHF<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accommodations, Transfers throughout the week and meals included<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Danae Botsaris<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"mailto:SISA2026@iaka.uzh.ch\">SISA2026@iaka.uzh.ch<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flyer: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><object class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SISA-2026_finaleVersion.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of SISA-2026_finaleVersion.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-aca25b84-bc72-4591-b824-2ab71c6d6ab2\" href=\"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SISA-2026_finaleVersion.pdf\">SISA-2026_finaleVersion<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SISA-2026_finaleVersion.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-aca25b84-bc72-4591-b824-2ab71c6d6ab2\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Swiss International Summer School for Alpine Archaeology: 12th\u201318th July 2026 Neanderthal Landscapes The Universities of Bern and Zurich are organising the seventh Swiss International Summer School for Alpine Archaeology (SISA) from 12th\u201318th July 2026. This year\u2019s summer school will take place in the Alpstein massif (Appenzell), in St. Gallen, in the Zurich area, and in &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/sisa-2026\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;SISA 2026&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/812"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=812"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":906,"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/812\/revisions\/906"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisa.archaeological.science\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}