UD student Sophia Margiotta spent the summer learning forensic science and excavation skills at an archaeological dig in Transylvania, Romania.

Summer Research: Archaeology Dig in Transylvania: youtube.com/watch?v=M8kt99-7irA

Digging into the past

Article by Hilary Douwes Photos courtesy of Sophia Margiotta | Video by Sam Kmiec and Paul Puglesi September 22, 2026

UD anthropology student finds career direction, confidence at archaeology site in Romania

Editor’s note: Every year, hundreds of undergraduates at the University of Delaware pursue research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Such experiences provided by UD — a nationally recognized research university — can be life-changing, introducing young scholars to a new field, perhaps even the path to a future career, as they uncover new knowledge. These spotlights offer a glimpse into their world.

Transylvania. You’re not alone if the word brings to mind vampires, bats and foreboding stone castles on a dark and stormy night.

For University of Delaware senior Sophia Margiotta, the infamous home of Count Dracula was anything but scary. The wooded mountains and small towns provided a place where she learned the skills and confidence to follow her dream of becoming a forensic scientist.

The honors biology and anthropology double major spent five weeks this summer excavating human remains, analyzing bones and studying cultural history through the Transylvania Bioarchaeology project in Jucu, Romania. The program brings together students from around the world each summer to work uncovering two medieval cemeteries — one from the seventh through ninth centuries, the other from the 11th through 12th centuries — located adjacent to a Roman villa from the second century.

UD student Sophia Margiotta (right) spent the summer working on an archaeological dig site in Romania.

The project’s long-term goal is to define the relationship between the cemetery and the surrounding settlements and to better understand the social customs, origins and health status of the differing populations in the area, according to Margiotta.

A forensic science minor, Margiotta has been interested in the field since high school. When she received an email about the project last spring, she decided to apply, even though she had never traveled overseas. Sarah Lacy, assistant professor of anthropology, has a connection to the project and encouraged her to go.

“This experience opened my eyes to some of the practical things in the career that I want to pursue,” she said. “I loved the fieldwork, but I think I enjoyed the forensic side of it and the laboratory analysis more. So it's definitely going to help me decide where to go next.”

In the lab, Margiotta and a faculty member examine the mandible of a specimen excavated from the site.

From site to the lecture hall

In the field, students used shovels, spades and trowels to remove soil layer by layer, looking for changes in how it looked and felt, as differences in texture can indicate a grave. Then they carefully excavated and documented their findings, creating detailed drawings, measurements and context records of the remains.

“When you think of archaeology, you don't automatically think that you're going to be doing a lot of paperwork, but archaeology is an inherently destructive practice,” Margiotta explained. “Once something is removed from the ground, it can never be put back the way it was.”

Margiotta (center) watches as a faculty member begins to draw the grid of a skeleton found in the cemetery.

One of the first and most memorable discoveries was the mostly intact skeleton of a child. Margiotta said such remains are relatively rare because children’s bones are not fully fused and generally do not preserve as well as adult bones. It was one of six sets of remains the group excavated this summer.

In the lab, students studied bone anatomy, human variation, ancestry, aging, sex estimation and stature. They also examined remains for evidence of trauma and pathology and participated in isotope-analysis exercises.

The program also emphasized cultural and ethical responsibility. Students collaborated with Romanian archaeological institutions and were expected to treat the remains with care and respect. They were not allowed to take personal photographs centered on remains or skeletons whose identities were unknown.

A five-day cultural field trip gave students additional perspective on Romanian history. Stops included a salt mine, castles, historic cities and, yes, Dracula’s Castle.

“This wasn't just for fun,” Margiotta said. “As anthropologists, we need some context on the culture and history of those that we are excavating so that we can further respect them and put them in their correct context.”

Margiotta, in white suit to the right of the professor crouching in the center, during an exercise called a forensic practical, where students excavated a skeleton in a simulated situation and followed forensic methodology, including putting evidence markers for photography.

Students excavated a skeleton in a simulated situation and followed forensic methodology, including putting evidence markers for photography.

Growing beyond the science

The experience taught Margiotta a lot about herself and her capabilities. Traveling overseas for the first time to a country where she didn’t speak the language, working in nearly 95-degree heat and being part of an international team showed her she was “a bit braver” than she had thought.

“I wasn't sure if I was capable of doing something like this,” she said. “I mean, I was completely alone. But I did do it. I learned a lot about myself as a team player, as opposed to a student, a learner.”

“It's really interesting to put yourself in a new place and see how you react. The past three years as an anthropology student, I’ve been trained in being culturally open and conscious, how to take things in and take them in stride, and learn and grow. I really feel like I went there and did my best to do that. And now I know a whole new way of life and how people react.”

Sophia Margiotta digs into the top layer of soil at the site. The area, which is next to a solar farm, was once home to two medieval cemeteries.

Marriotta will work with anthropology professor Melissa Melby this fall to write about the experience for her anthropology capstone project.

Despite the hard work and the incredible amount she learned, Margiotta said most people have the same question when she mentions her trip.

“The most popular question I get is ‘Can I see photos of Dracula’s castle?’” she laughed. “I always say yes.”

Margiotta stands in front of Corvin Castle, one of Europe’s largest Gothic-Renaissance fortresses. The program included a five-day field trip to several areas in the region, which gave the students the cultural and historical context for the excavation site.