These last 5 weeks have gone by so quickly, and I’m just so happy that I got to be here, having the experience of doing archaeology in Turkey. I’ve learned so much about the process of excavation, preservation, and documentation, and I think that I certainly have a greater knowledge and respect for the work archaeologists do now that I have had a chance to try my hand at it. I know what things about archaeology I like, such as finding bones and other artifacts such as coins and pottery, articulating walls, finding bedrock, and trying to make sense of what everything means together in context. I also know what I don’t like about archaeology, such as finding MORE wall fall and rocks when trying to find aforementioned bedrock, moving that rock and wall fall, and worrying that something valuable will accidentally get tossed out with it because we’re so used to seeing only that. I’ve had an amazing summer, full of learning and bonding with other like-minded people. To anyone thinking about coming with next summer to study archaeology, I’d strongly recommend it, and just to let you know a little more about what you’re considering getting yourself into, I’ve complied a list of 10 pieces of advice:
- Learn to be comfortable in your own skin. Accept the sweat and dirt. It will be permanent. Any attempts to remove it will only last for an hour or so at best. The sooner you can accept this fact, the sooner you and all of your roommates who have to listen to you complain about it will be happier.
- Sunscreen. Lots and lots of sunscreen.
- Be prepared to swallow/inhale a lot of the dust and soil you are trying to put into the buckets. It’s ineveitable. Just learn to accept the taste of grit in your teeth.
- Try to learn a little Turkish, either before you get here or shortly after arriving. An English-Turkish dictionary will be your new best friend. You don’t have to be fluent, but the Turks really appreciate you trying, even if it is just saying hello or other short phrases.5. Do learn the Turkish numbers 1-10. The first time you go to buy cookies and water, you will wish you knew these.
6. Go to the clothing market and buy yourself Turkish pants. They will be the most comfortable item of clothing you’ve ever worn.
7. Do not look out the window while the bus is moving unless you want to see your life flash before your eyes. On the highway, this is less likely to happen, but when driving around on the winding mountain roads, especially if you have to go up an incline backwards because the bus doesn’t handle hills very well, this will happen to you. I don’t know who was watching out for us on that trip, but many thanks to God, Zeus, or whoever else might have had a hand in making sure we didn’t plunge off the side of the mountain.
8. Also, in relation to driving, do not expect the bus (or any other vehicles, really) to stop for traffic signs. Maybe it is just because I do not read Turkish, or maybe the Turks have their own different rules for the road than I expected, but as far as I can tell, stop signs and turn signals are basically non-existent here. Or, rather, they exist, but for show only. Bottom line: do not expect traffic to stop for you, because it won’t. Just learn to weave in and out of moving cars while trying to cross the street and you’ll be fine. It’s really just one big game of Frogger.
9. Invest in a good pair of hiking boots. You will be wearing these for about 8 hours a day for 5 days per week, and sometimes on weekends too depending on where you go on a weekend excursion, so make sure they are comfortable. And break them in before you get here. There is nothing worse than trying to climb up a small cliff with a 5L water bottle (yes, you really will drink it all) and all of your other dig equipment and doing it all with painful blisters on your feet.
10. Enjoy yourself. In between all of the hard work you will do on site, the documentation, the pottery washing, make some time to take a nap. Go into town and do some shopping at Turkish Walmart. Get yourself some dondurma (Turkish ice cream)- the chocolate is the best in my opinion. Or some baklava, or kunefe. Basically just try all of the Turkish desserts and food, because it is all wonderful. Go to the beach and the pirate cove. Talk with the Turkish students and make some new friends. You are in a new place with new people, so do anything and everything you can to explore it and enjoy the trip in addition to the archaeology.
I don’t know where I will go next summer. I might come back here, or I may end up somewhere else. Regardless, I have this wonderful experience to look back on. There are so many stories I have to tell and memories that I will carry with me for a long time to come, and I know this trip has helped me make some choices about what I want to study in the future. The archaeology as been fascinating, and it’s also been great to get to know the Turkish students and some of the other people who live in Gazipasa and Guney. A year ago, I doubted I’d ever leave the United States, and now I’m reflecting on the last 5 weeks that I’ve spent in Turkey. Despite some struggles, I am so happy to have had this experience and I’ll remember it for years to come.
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