How fast a month flies by! İt seems like just yesterday İ was boarding my flight to Istanbul, and now İ sit in a hostel near Galata, only able to reflect on the wonderful time İ had. The one thing İ will never ever miss however, was the humidity. Holy hell folks that Gazipaşa humidity will get you feeling like you’re swimming while walking down the street. Do not bring polyester or heavy cotton clothes! Linen, rayon, and viscose even are the way to go, giving you some breathability in the sauna you will live in. Another thing: bring dust masks! While the site is not heavy on limestone, around 50% of my archaeological experience was the fun black goo that coats your nose and mouth from rawdogging an excavation. Otherwise, İ felt relatively prepared off of the shopping list provided. Do go to Gazi Döner by the Gazipaşa mosque! İ don’t have many “don’ts” to share other than getting hit on at bars or restaurants. You will find some fascinating specimens that call out to you like a siren, do not interact!
İ would 1000% participate in another archaeological excavation. While digging in the dirt is perhaps not my favourite activity, the wonderful people you’ll meet from all over make it so worth it! Being an active participant in historical research widened my perspective in the field and really showed me the importance of ethical research, especially when given the example of a less scrupulous team nearby. İ think the biggest thing that İ learned was about the burden of care and ethics. While of course the saying that “victors write history” is perhaps melodramatic here, it’s very much true as you’re excavating items and land that has lain untouched for over a thousand years. While we can not be perfect, we can strive to show as much and as honest and complete a story as possible, not hyperfocusing on our interests or political concerns. On the other hand, some things, such as very forward middle-aged men at bars and restaurants, are perhaps best left uncovered as i discovered to my chagrin and (occasional) amusement, watching them try to google translate appellations to my beauty (çok güzel, tu es tres belle, amongst others) in about 10 different languages, ranging from russian, to albanian, to french, to arabic. İ will say, Gazipasa is an excellent town to build one’s self confidence in their looks.
İ struggle to list a specific favourite experience in Gazipaşa and Antiochia, so İ will use a cop out and say: it was the friends İ made along the way. And honestly, it was. From a number of my fellow Oles (and even a lost Carl), to the other archaeologists, and especially the Turkish Conservation team, İ made so many wonderful friends and memories that İ will cherish as İ return home to my regular life (also: do get künefe with the ice cream, it is life changing!). This trip has certainly helped reorient my goals, and İ now am looking into pursuing a career in heritage law, applying the ethics and principles İ learned at this site at home and (hopefully) abroad! İ knew sadly little about modern Türkiye before İ came here, and it’s now one of my favourite places in the world. The people, food, and culture have all been just wonderful to be immersed in. İ graduated the May before this trip having never studied abroad, and to anyone on the fence about it: do it! İ have learned a lot about myself and had an amazing time seeing sights İ never thought İ’d be able to see. So, come to Türkiye or even somewhere else and get out of the farms of Northfield for a bit, you won’t regret it.