Everything I have experienced has been so exciting and new. I have learned much about myself and the site. Now that I am here, my interest in archeology has increased. I enjoy how hands on it is and that it is stimulating both physically and mentally. We are constantly moving rocks and buckets full of dirt and leveling is a never ending job. My unit has a lot of heavy lifting involving large rocks which some I cannot lift. But, luckily, we have a few beasts in our unit that can do all the heavy lifting. (Thank you Audrey and Grace) (And the lovely Turks that move the rocks with insane ease). Intellectually, I have enjoyed how quickly I have been able to adapt. It is much easier to identify different rocks and ceramic whether it is roof tile, floor tile, pottery, or schist. It is also getting easier to understand and interpret things I am seeing.
When it comes to archeology, I did not realize how much moving around it involved. Everyone talks about the findings but very few mention how they get found. The use of buckets and wheelbarrows are such key tools that are overlooked, probably because it is not nearly as exciting as finding a part of the past. Because of the work so far, squatting has become so much easier and I will never be able to look and dirt and rocks the same. Additionally, never in my years did I think that finding a wall would be so thrilling. Not only the wall, but every find becomes a show and tell because everyone is excited to see what you have found.
Our site is fascinating. Learning about an ancient city and actually seeing it is a whole new experience. The city is beautiful. It is crazy to think that we are seeing a similar view today to that of the ancient inhabitants thousands of years ago. Everyday we get to walk through the big bath and everyday I think of how many took the same path we did. It is fun to imagine what the city looked like in its prime– how it sounded and the people that were there. The more we dig the more understanding we have of the city. How exiting it is that there is so much more to dig.