The Roman city of Colonia Clunia Sulpicia in northern Spain is an archaeologist’s dream. Founded as an administrative center after the Roman conquest of northern Iberia in the early first century B.C., Clunia was built not on the nearby ruins of the Iron Age Celtiberian stronghold, but instead was founded as an entirely new settlement atop a dominating plateau 3,400 feet above sea level. From this majestic point overlooking the Spanish countryside, Clunia became a center of Roman life and culture for the next three and a half centuries. Surveys and excavations have revealed all the wealth and grandeur of a major Roman city, including luxurious public baths, magnificent mansions, a large forum, collossal temples, beautifully laid mosaic floors.

The site is perhaps most renowned for its impressive Roman theater, which incorporated innovative architectural elements, as well as an intricately designed water drainage system. With an estimated seating capacity of over 9,000, the ancient theater is the largest ever to be discovered in the Iberian Peninsula. This summer, volunteers at Clunia will help directors Francesc Tuset and Miguel Angel de la Inglesia piece together exactly how this impressive Roman theater was built and then transformed over the centuries.

Dr. Francesc Tuset is a professor of archaeology at the University of Barcelona and has worked on the excavation of Clunia since 1978. He has directed a number of excavations in Spain, including the paleo-Christian and medieval site of Tarrasa and the paleo-Christian basilica of Son Fadrinet in Mallorca.

Dr. Miguel Angel de la Iglesia is a professor of classical architecture at the University of Valladolid and has worked on numerous archaeological conservation projects throughout Spain.

Mike Elkin is director of ArchaeoSpain and has led groups to Clunia since 2002. He currently lives and works in Madrid as a freelance foreign correspondent.