This internship will allow me to study and explore a part of history that has interested me for years. I have always taken an interest in the domestic lives of people of the past. I love learning how they would conduct their day, what they would eat, and what the roles within the household were. The readings opened my eyes to the study of domestic archaeology and everything that must be considered when excavating a domus. I enjoyed reading about the detail that goes into excavating and then surveying a room. How small, subtle differences in artifacts and architecture signal the class and status of the residents. Visiting and studying the series of other archaeological sites intrigues me. Doing so will allow me to test my knowledge of the field, as well as travel to new places. At the site, I am most excited to uncover small pieces about the lives of the people of Antiochia. I cannot wait to uncover my first piece of pottery, discern what ancient room I am standing in, and work with my colleagues to understand the lives of the ancient people of Antiochia and beyond.
I am also interested in growing my knowledge in zooarchaeology. I had not heard of this particular discipline before the readings. While possibly uncovering mosaics or ancient coins can tell us a lot about the broader culture, studying zooarchaeology will allow me to gain a greater understanding of the individuals who operate within that culture. I am excited for nearly every part of this experience, as I believe it will help me understand the connections between ancient cultures and our modern age.
During this internship, I want to explore how this project navigates Cultural Resource Management, as well as learn how the materials we uncover relate to the broader sociocultural context. Several of the readings established the importance of CRM, which made me wonder how our specific project interacts with the local community to maintain a respectful relationship and how this project honors different historical claims of this one place. CRM also proved to be a versatile concept to work within. While I have always wanted to be an archeologist, after my time at St. Olaf, I hope to attend law school. I have bounced back and forth on what kind of law I want to practice, and I now have an increasing interest in CRM. I had no idea there were so many international laws regarding archaeology and cultural preservation. This experience will allow me to see how my two passions intertwine, giving me the real-world experience I need to inform future decisions. Exploring the historical significance of our work at the site is more of a personal passion. I have always loved the ancient world, especially learning about how different waves of globalization affected civilizations across the world. I hope I can connect what I learn during this internship to my studies at St. Olaf.
I am both a history and social studies education major at St. Olaf. So my experience will be shaped from two directions. That of a history student, and that of a history teacher. As a student, I am excited to finally be on an archaeological dig. My goal is to not only learn from the supervisors, but also from my colleagues. I am excited to be a part of a project that is much larger than myself, to contribute to a growing academic community. I have always wanted to do this kind of work, so in a way, I am fulfilling a bucket list item. Being present at this site will allow me to learn new skills, as well as increase my knowledge of the classical world in a way a classroom never could.
Thinking about the impact of this project on me as a history teacher has also shaped how I view my audience and why I am doing this work. The readings discussed at length the importance of educating and incorporating the public into archaeology. When I walk away from this project, I want to feel confident in my knowledge so that I may share the importance of archaeology with others. One of the biggest questions I have gotten about this internship from family and friends is simply, why? My answer has always been because of the education it will provide me. I will discover new ways to learn, new ways to teach, and new ways to interact with different cultures. The spirit of continuous learning and education is what drew me to archaeology at eight years old. I want to carry that spirit with me long after I leave Antiochia ad Cragum.