The most important piece of advice I can give is to come with an open mind. For most, everything that will be experienced is so new. Coming with an open and understanding mind will help. Some other advise is: expect it to be super hot and bright. The sweat and smells you learn to ignore. Because of the heat and increase in physical activity your appetite may be off. When packing, remember to bring loungewear for when you get back from the dig. I preferred bandanas over wearing a hat at the dig, consider experimenting with both. Before coming, it could be useful to familiarize yourself with archaeology and the site. While in Gazipaşa, go exploring. Walk around and discover new things. Both beaches are great and both have some nice restaurants. When it comes to food, go to Tavada Tuvuk and order the chili chicken. It’s amazing.
I would participate in another archaeological excavation. I did not expect to enjoy it so much. I liked how hands on it was and the constant mental stimulation. The work was hard at times, but always paid off in the end. I learned how to think analytically while digging. Your mind constantly has to be thinking of the bigger picture. If you should level, do another pass, focus on one area over another, and figuring out more about what it is you are digging. There are smaller details that you have to be careful to not miss. Such as changes in soil and small objects like coins, pottery, or a surface. I also learned how to build makeshift stairs. They were incredibly sketchy and borderline a hazard. Though the ancient Turks have some janky walls, they were significantly better than our stairs, and comparing the two gave me a whole new appreciation for their building skills.
In our first unit, 8A, we discovered a beautiful flagstone floor. When we had cleared it all up and brushed it off, we got to lay down and take a picture. Then we jokingly did ring around the rosey. It was so much fun. To see the result of our hard work was incredibly satisfying. Taking a step back to just stare and acknowledge that this floor has been covered for over a thousand years was crazy. While looking at it, Tim had mentioned that we are the first to step on this floor since those who originally covered it, we were the first to walk on it after the people who actually lived there. Jaw-dropping is what that is.
This dig has opened my mind to many possibilities. I have become more interested in the field of historic preservation/ heritage conservation. Working in the field and finding artifacts made me want to help protect the sites more. I believe it is important to keep these historic sites and findings. It is also important to teach others about the significance. Being an archaeologist has been an amazing experience. I have learned so much and will be able to take away so many skills. I loved being able to explore a small town in Turkey and be the first to uncover what has been buried for a thousand years.