Playing Archeologist

Group sitting on top of the ancient wine press
just north of Palestine.

When I was in 11th grade I made a list of life goals.  Though I now can't remember all of them they included the following:  Learn a language (check: 2004/2005), Live abroad (check: 2004, 2005, 2010), See Machu Picchu (check: 2005), Publish my work (check: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), Work on an archeological dig: CHECK! 2010!!!

My friend Katie organized a group of 8 of us to volunteer for a day, helping an NGO clear a path to and uncover a wine press from the Bronze Age (3300-1200 BCE). While I can't say that it was the most scientific of digs, it was an ancient site and we did get to play archeologists!

  

Despite my eagerness to go on the dig, I did not want to drive.  But alas, my high school days have returned and I am once again the only friend with a car. So I drove a group of us up North, just above Palestine, to the top of a mountian (apparently the lady leading us didn't realize that my little volvo is not an off-roader!). It was a dream come true! There as a large stone structure mostly burried in dirt and rock, a makeshift tent over the dig site, and various spots in the vacinity with carved stones showing beneath the brush. 

Paul and the strong men set to work moving large stones (the size of children) and clearning a path from the road to the wine press.  Katie and another friend were moving dirt from the wine press, and Emily and I were...moving rocks. Nothing fancy..until we discovered something.  We don't know what it was - if anything - but it appeared to be manmade.  While we imagined it to be a water irrigation system or an olive oil press, it could just as easily have been a toilet. 

Anyway, before too long we lost interest in the toliet and joined Katie at the wine press.  Sorting stones from plants from soil, carrying buckets of dirt from the site to the dumping spot - this archeology thing was losing its shine.  Then, I checked the box! As Emily carried away a bucket of stones, laying there covered in dirt was the handle from a pot! The first archeological find of the dig! I found it! Woohoo!!!  Emily and I carefully sifted through the soil and rocks and found about 15 small pieces of an orange ceramic pot with a zigzag pattern on it. We placed them all to the side on a tarp (for the real archeologist to examine).

My desires to work on an archeological site have been fulfilled - I'm done with that phase. Sifted through the dirt, moved some rocks, found a pot, checked off that box.