As I prepare to step onto the site at Antiochia for the first time, I find myself most eager to see how it all fits together. After the last months of studying previous scholars’ work on Roman archeology, experiencing my personal travels, and starting to learn more about ancient urban design, there’s something exciting—and necessary—about physically standing in the space. Most of all, I hope to understand how the different parts of the city interacted: where people lived, how they moved, how daily life unfolded in public and private spaces. It’s like a giant puzzle through history, and I’m excited to finally start the process of fitting the pieces together with my own eyes.
What intrigues me most isn’t just the monumental architecture or the stunning mosaics (although they are fascinating components), but the evolving story of humanity. I’m particularly drawn to the way Antiochia changed over time, especially during the Roman Empire. One striking example from our readings is how large single-family homes began to be subdivided into rental units. This seemingly small shift hints at broader social, economic, and cultural transformations. What was happening in the city that required this adaptation? How did people’s lives change with these structural transitions? Exploring these questions during the internship will help me better understand not just the past, but how historical dynamics still shape the way we inhabit space today.
Before the dig begins, there are two things that I really want to do: feel the Mediterranean water wash over me and explore a bit of modern Gazipaşa. I think it’s important to connect the ancient world with the modern one in a visceral way, beyond the academic experience. Through walking the streets, meeting locals, and getting a sense of today’s rhythms, I hope to gain an enriched understanding of both the region’s continuity and its change. Further, this evolution is a reminder that the site isn’t just frozen in time, but part of a living, breathing landscape where people still live, work, and build the future.