After I read about the site of Antiochia and other ancient cities in the area, there are so many things I am eager to learn more about, and I find it hard to pick just one. I have always found that being able to see and experience something with my own eyes makes it so much easier to learn about in person. I am curious to learn more about Antiochia’s coinage. I find it fascinating that these coins reflected the intersectionality of Antiochia as a city. Coins are a great way to narrow down time frames and help us, as archaeologists, understand their significance on a broader scale, featuring Emperor Hadrian or other emperors that came later. I found the Antiochian Eagle on the back side to be particularly interesting, as it also appears on monuments, tombs, and across the city of Antiochia, making it a symbol to look out for as we uncover Antiochia. I also just think it is really cool thinking about how these coins got to be in that place, who may have touched it last, where it has been, and how long it has been there. These are artifacts that haven’t seen the light of day in centuries.
As someone who has been interested in archaeology for a very long time now, I am very excited to learn more about the processes involved in archaeology, such as the different methods. The history of archaeology is fascinating, seeing how much it has changed and the differences between classical and contemporary archaeology. I want to learn more about the archival processes an artifact undergoes, where it ends up, and how it is restored. I have taken several art history classes, art and ceramics, and sociology and anthropology classes that closely relate to several topics throughout the readings, so I am interested in being able to expand my knowledge of those topics in art history with what I already know. I have always loved learning about ancient frescoes from the Renaissance and medieval times, so I am curious to learn more about art forms and how they might be similar to those of Greek art forms and techniques. Greek culture and architecture is something that has influenced a lot of the world, and it will be interesting to see how other elements of everyday Greek life influence other aspects of life throughout history.
When I took Colonial Encounters in North America with Professor Hahn, we talked a lot about archaeology, and something that stood out to me was how invasive certain archaeological methods were to Indigenous peoples who continued to live on their ancestral lands. We discussed one archaeologist, whose name completely escapes me, who brought in heavy machinery, possibly hydraulic coring, to unearth artifacts on a reservation somewhere in the southwest. I also think artifacts found in his excavations were withheld from the tribe. It was a huge loss for the people living there, as it was disruptive and impacted their daily lives. So, as I prepare for our archaeological journey at Antiochia ad Cragum, it is important to remain respectful and thoughtful as we learn and excavate. Our goal is to honor local communities and their heritage and cultural identity. To me, this matters because Antiochia is also a place where real people lived and died, and we need to honor them as best as possible. I find that it is important to practice Archaeological ethics and do my part in preserving and protecting artifacts from being looted or sold, especially knowing how easily cultural materials can be exploited or mishandled when proper care is not taken.