The Next Step

It is with mixed emotions that I report that the field school will be over in one week. The field school has managed to be the most "hands on" learning experience that I have ever had, and at the same time has also been the most uncomfortable and dirty. I began this portion of the blog wondering whether or not I would fall into the ‘love’ or ‘hate’ camp in respect to archaeology. Well I can certainly say that I don’t hate it. In fact, once you get past the heat, and being covered in dirt and sweat for eight hours it really isn’t that bad. A particular maxim of Dr. Mullins’ comes to mind every time I think about taking another field school, “Hey, it beats work.” However, the positive benefits of a field school go beyond escaping a cubicle.

One of the best parts of the field school has been meeting new people who are also in my field, or at least a related field. There is rarely time in a normal class to talk or get to know people, even those whom you have had several classes with. Needless to say, you cannot dig for eight hours a day with people without getting to know them. In fact, last weekend the class got together for a cookout, and we were all able to see what each other looked like again when not covered in mud. My academic journey for the summer is not over though.

Thanks to a MURI grant, myself and my friends Alex, Jordan and Lisa will aid Lewis Jones in the interpretation of the artifacts that we have found during the excavation. Each of us has been given a specific topic to research and write about. Because I have spent much of the field school excavating what was once a double alley house, my own research will focus on how alley houses relate to poverty and other issues of social justice. I am excited about the topic itself, as it will allow me to put much of what was ‘dug up’ into context. Though I must admit to being slightly apprehensive to all of the other requirements of MURI such as GRE prep courses, poster presentations, and a final 15-20 page paper.