Patience is a learned skill; it is a virtue that archaeology requires and not all possess. This trip has taught me how critical it is to be patient and proceed my digging with a certain finesse and rhythm. It is important to work cautiously, not only for my own health, but for everything we owe to the ancient past. Going fast may contribute to large amounts of moved soil and a sore back, but it risks the potential to throw away data at the dump site, never to be studied again. It is therefore crucial to be patient, and go at the pace best for you, otherwise you run the risk of destroying your body and ruining the very history you seek to study.
Patience is also applicable to the team dynamic. If there is one, or a few weak links on the dig team, the team mentality is destroyed: productivity is limited, wheelbarrows don’t get taken, and units begin to band together Lord of the Flies style. Therefore, the patience to interact with these few individuals contributes to a productive and professional work environment that benefits everyone.
Another skill which this experience has granted me is the opportunity to use photogrammetry technology to capture archive-quality images of our findings. I have applied a method developed by Cultural Heritage Imaging which analyzes geometry and light in Metashape to create such images. While initially difficult, the more practice I got, I became more comfortable capturing images in the field and using the program. So far, I have assisted in the production of digital images of an osteotheke and a medieval Turkish wall. I learned that these digital images are important to the preservation of cultural heritage because they preserve these objects forever on a platform that enables their continued study, even after objects go missing or get destroyed.
