Welcome to
Ancient Odysseys®—
a website devoted to helping people find paleontology and archaeology digs
around the world.
Going on an archaeology or paleontology dig is a lifelong dream
of so many people.
Ancient Odysseys is the brainchild of Marisa Rodriguez, founder and citizen scientist. I developed the idea for Ancient Odysseys to make it easier for travelers to join research-based paleontology and archaeology digs and work right alongside the scientists themselves.
How my passion turned
into a mission
It all started in 2012 when, with no experience whatsoever, I joined a dinosaur dig in Wyoming. Braving the 100-degree heat and 35 mile-an-hour winds, I helped to unearth the horns, jaw, legs and frill of a Triceratops, a creature that hadn’t seen the light of day for 65 million years. It was thrilling.
As the years went on, the fun continued. I worked on a Hadrosaur here, an Ankylosaur there and even joined a Neanderthal dig in Spain.
The excitement I felt working every day was matched by the sense of fulfillment that I was doing something that benefited science. And the more I told others about my adventures, the more I heard how many people had a lifelong dream of going on a dig.
Ancient Odysseys is hatched
The idea for Ancient Odysseys started there. I wanted to make it easy for travelers to find paleontology and archaeology digs around the world.
As a citizen scientist, you can have fun andnmake a difference too
By joining a dig, you not only help scientists with the actual excavation work, but almost 100% of your fees fund the important work being done by these researchers now and into the future (minus thehard costs for room and board, of course).
How we want to influence
the future of
paleontology and archaeology
Ancient Odysseys’ reach continues to expand, and we are always talking to new scientists and adding new digs on a regular basis—some of which have never been available before.
We hope you are inspired to join an excavation on your next vacation. Dig into the Adventure with Ancient Odysseys and be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about new digs.