A general day digging involves a 7.00 am start. Some arise at 05.50, some 6.50am. The mob moves off at 6.55 for a brisk 37-second walk to the site, which, by the afternoon, becomes a 2-minute slow moving scramble. Five trench groups part their way; ours take the high road to watch the above sunrise.
Trench photographs are taken and the trench supervisor allocates the morning work; picks and shovel, trowel and plastic scoops? After two and half interesting, engaging yet sweating work we break for breakfast. Each day a separate digger helps Fiona prepare the smorgasbord of delights: fresh bread, meats, salads, cereal and fruit. Messages delivered and we return to the trenches.
Intermittently, and when needed, we are tutored in the fine arts of dirt removal. Today’s lesson was Archaeological Methodology Conventions. By this time the sun is overhead and pounding, generally “up top” there is a breeze, which takes the edge off. We have a quick break at 11.30am and finally some shade, a few biscuits and a seat. Some stories are swapped and …
“Once more onto the cavea.” The final hour takes us to a final clearance and a clean. Store the tools and another smorgasbord waits. Generally, the afternoon ends with “Pot-washing”. From 2 pm we gather to soak and scrub the potshards or sort them to their respective eras, Hellenistic, Roman, Medieval (Sgraffito), Ottoman, modern, and plastics? Then breaking them down to fine ware, courseware or cookware. Finally examining them to see if they are diagnostic or non-diagnostic.
Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides would be proud of the day’s efforts!
The evening may require a quick trip to the new Mall or the weekend trip to the many varied spots around Cyprus; perhaps a trip to Cyprus Museum in Nicosia for some serious study.
Trench photographs are taken and the trench supervisor allocates the morning work; picks and shovel, trowel and plastic scoops? After two and half interesting, engaging yet sweating work we break for breakfast. Each day a separate digger helps Fiona prepare the smorgasbord of delights: fresh bread, meats, salads, cereal and fruit. Messages delivered and we return to the trenches.
Intermittently, and when needed, we are tutored in the fine arts of dirt removal. Today’s lesson was Archaeological Methodology Conventions. By this time the sun is overhead and pounding, generally “up top” there is a breeze, which takes the edge off. We have a quick break at 11.30am and finally some shade, a few biscuits and a seat. Some stories are swapped and …
“Once more onto the cavea.” The final hour takes us to a final clearance and a clean. Store the tools and another smorgasbord waits. Generally, the afternoon ends with “Pot-washing”. From 2 pm we gather to soak and scrub the potshards or sort them to their respective eras, Hellenistic, Roman, Medieval (Sgraffito), Ottoman, modern, and plastics? Then breaking them down to fine ware, courseware or cookware. Finally examining them to see if they are diagnostic or non-diagnostic.
Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides would be proud of the day’s efforts!
The evening may require a quick trip to the new Mall or the weekend trip to the many varied spots around Cyprus; perhaps a trip to Cyprus Museum in Nicosia for some serious study.
Another day,
another sunrise,
new knowledge and the setting sun.
Scott Mudge
History Teacher and Digger
another sunrise,
new knowledge and the setting sun.
Scott Mudge
History Teacher and Digger
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