Boston University is mourning the loss of a graduate student who died while researching ancient cultures in western Turkey.
The university said Friday that 26-year-old Chad DiGregorio, of Upton, was found dead Thursday from an apparent fall in a rugged area in Manisa province.
The third-year doctoral student was working on an archaeological dig based in the village of Tekelioglu. He had gone out alone on his day off to look for other artifacts in a nearby area of hills and caves.
BU says DiGregorio's colleagues notified police when he didn't return Wednesday evening and managed to hack into his personal computer to find the GPS location of his cellphone. His body was found about an hour's hike from their base.
In a press release, DiGregorio's thesis of advisor praised the 26-year-old's passion and enthusiasm.
"Chad was the best and most promising young archaeologist that I know, with a passionate interest in the Paleolithic archaeology of the Mediterranean world," says Professor of Archaeology Curtis Runnels.
Funeral arrangements for DiGregorio have not been announced.
