MASTER OF LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAM, SMU   2004: The outstanding 2004 MLA students dining at the Casa di Caccia are left to right: Mary Phelan, David Foster, Patti Hawkins, Matt Russell, Jason Hawkins, and Julie Russell.   Matt and Julie Russell, who met as students on this excavation in 1998, later married and this year returned to work as graduate students.   Julie Russell, an M.L.A. student from SMU, and Andrew McClellen excavating in PC 27.   M.L.A. student Mary Phelan in the Podere Funghi during her 2nd summer on the MVAP.   Assistant Field Supervisor Sarah Titus and volunteer Matt Russell in PC 20.   Matt Russell (right) with Jess Galloway in Robert Vander Poppen's trench.   2001: Judy Culbertson and Paige Russell, two of the 2001 season M.L.A. students, worked all day every day with their teams in the trenches--from 7:00 in the morning until 4:30 and sometimes 5:30 at night. They attended all of the lecutres and workshops presented by the professional staff and volunteered for various additional chores. Judy and Paige have been enthusiastic, hard-working, low-maintenance and cheerful additions to the excavation team. Thank you! Judy Culbertson sweeping in Locus 4 of Trench PC 23, where she excavated this season.   Paige Russell digging in her trench, PC 18. 2000: Cindy Lutz excavating in Trench PC 21. The MLA program is designed to allow working people who have already been graduated with a degree to pursue a general, liberal arts course of study. Most of the classes are in the evening on campus at SMU. Some have more exotic locations, places like the Mugello Valley of Tuscany. For the most part we are a bit older than the undergraduate and graduate students. Many of us are motivated by a desire to learn for the sheer fun of learning as opposed to pursuing a degree that will lead to a career. We are a mixture of people from diverse fields like banking, retail, real estate, oil, and accounting. We are in school because that’s where we want to be, not just because we think it’s where we’re supposed to be. 2000 M.L.A. students working in Trench PF 5 during the first few weeks of the season: Jerry Nelson (left) with Jurriaan Venneman digging, and Patricia C. Bowles (right) sifting.   Sarah Benac digging in Trench PC 21.   The residence for M.L.A. students is on the road up to the excavation, with views of the Mugello Valley and mountains. Photo by Larry Lehman.   Mountains of the Mugello. Photo by Larry Lehman.   One of hundreds of digital photos M.L.A. students Theresa Smith and Christi Thompson shot of catalogued objects in the Casa di Giotto. During these two weeks we have learned a lot about archaeology and about the mysterious Etruscans. We met some nice and some interesting people, and we were also able to renew some acquaintances from last year. We were able to visit Florence, Orvieto, and Siena. We’ve enjoyed great food and wonderful wines. The Tuscans have turned the preparation of mushrooms and truffles into an art form, but that is a subject for another time. On behalf of all the MLA students, thanks to the students and staff at the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project. Thank you for letting us participate. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your skills with us. It has been a grand adventure. Co-Directors: Gregory Warden gwarden@mail.smu.edu and Michael Thomas mlthomas@mail.utexas.edu Excavation house phone during the field season: (011-39) 055-844-9834