The 2012 season is down to the home stretch - most boxes are stored; the bulk of the pottery sorted; and few songs remain unsung at Boogie’s karaoke lounge. With a half day today, most of the team took the opportunity to recline, relax (and reflect). It has been a wholesome week in a busy season - a week of digging up final contexts outside and mouldy boxes inside.
Those of us new to the on-site experience can now appreciate that archaeology isn’t just about finding an intricately carved marble foot in a wall fill - that is but a small part of a much larger process. An hour of digging usually equates to two hours of washing/sorting/packing boxes. For the specialist areas the ratio is much more disproportionate.
One can also appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of an archaeological project. Some of these disciplines are acquired through further specialisation in the archaeology field. Others are randomly available as vocations that complement the common interest in archaeology. A day job so to speak. Along with qualified archaeologists, we could not lift 200 kg stone blocks without our resident engineer. Nor could we comprehensively plot different phases of the threatre complex without an architect. These two examples are only the tip of the iceberg.* I have certainly enjoyed witnessing all of these skill sets working together to piece together the Paphos puzzle.
Next week there will be more shifting soil and dumping spoil - but with a day of rest, the team will be firing for the final sprint...and the other marble foot.
*All masseuses with a passion for archaeology are encouraged to apply immediately for 2013
- Harry M
You can get it digging a trench, you can get it sorting a pot, you can get it any old how...matter of fact I got it now.
Those of us new to the on-site experience can now appreciate that archaeology isn’t just about finding an intricately carved marble foot in a wall fill - that is but a small part of a much larger process. An hour of digging usually equates to two hours of washing/sorting/packing boxes. For the specialist areas the ratio is much more disproportionate.
One can also appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of an archaeological project. Some of these disciplines are acquired through further specialisation in the archaeology field. Others are randomly available as vocations that complement the common interest in archaeology. A day job so to speak. Along with qualified archaeologists, we could not lift 200 kg stone blocks without our resident engineer. Nor could we comprehensively plot different phases of the threatre complex without an architect. These two examples are only the tip of the iceberg.* I have certainly enjoyed witnessing all of these skill sets working together to piece together the Paphos puzzle.
Next week there will be more shifting soil and dumping spoil - but with a day of rest, the team will be firing for the final sprint...and the other marble foot.
*All masseuses with a passion for archaeology are encouraged to apply immediately for 2013
- Harry M
You can get it digging a trench, you can get it sorting a pot, you can get it any old how...matter of fact I got it now.
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