With the school year winding down, many Creighton students have begun the usual process of applying for summer jobs, internships and classes to keep busy during the summer months. Three students, however, have a slightly more unique schedule mapped out for this summer. Kevin Lee, Gretchen Stricker and Paige Bockman have all been accepted into archaeological fields for this coming summer.
Lee, an Arts & Sciences senior, will be participating in the Poggio Civitate Field School in Murlo, Italy. The Poggio Civitate Archaeological Project is directed by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is among the oldest and best known field schools in the world. Lee will have the opportunity to excavate at the site under the direction of professional archaeologists, conservators, illustrators and photographers.
“I’m thrilled to be selected as part of the program,” Lee said. “As a volunteer, I’m basically a glorified 21st century version of the local laborers archaeologists hired to excavate sites in the old days but with actual training in archaeological methods.”
This training will include all aspects of archaeological fieldwork, including excavation and data collection, archaeological survey and drawing, objects conservation, illustration, photography and cataloging.
“During the weekdays, I’ll put what I learn in field school to practice in the trenches where I’ll be excavating a small area around me, extremely carefully, with a hand-held pick, a trowel and a brush,” Lee said. “As I emphasized above, it will require extreme patience.”
Arts & Sciences juniors Stricker and Bockman will both participate in the Athienou Archaeological Project (AAP) in Cyprus. Bockman will be participating as a normal student, but Stricker will work as a part of the funded staff and will be aiding Dr. Erin Averett in field research. Stricker participated as a student last year and was invited back for a second year as part of the staff. Stricker and Bockman are roommates, and Stricker’s previous involvement in the program helped Bockman get further involved and apply.
“It is a real honor to be going back as junior staff member,” Stricker said. “I initially was only hoping to go back and help in any way possible, even as a volunteer, but when I got the e-mail about being junior staff I was ecstatic. And when Dr. Averett asked me to help her with her research, I was even more excited. Both of these will give me a lot more experience and a deeper look into archaeology and research.”
The Athienou Archaeological Project is a multidisciplinary project focusing on the site of Athienou-Malloura and the surrounding valley in south-central Cyprus. AAP is sponsored by Davidson College, and the site was used for nearly 2,500 years. It encompasses the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian and Ottoman periods in the island’s history. The site has long been occupied for field research and is said to be ideal training ground in students’ learning archaeological methodology.
“I hope this experience will give me the skills and background in excavation that will prepare me for graduate programs and make me more attractive to graduate schools,” Stricker said. “I also hope to make some good professional contacts in the world of archaeology, as well as make new friends and have a great new experience.”
As the rest of the student population figures out the means to their summer, these three will pack to head overseas and further pursue their archaeological fascinations. All three said they have not decided on a future in archaeology, but this experience will help guide their decision. It’s tedious work that requires extreme patience, something Lee especially stressed when talking about being interested in the field.
“Archaeology isn’t for everyone, but if one enjoys being outdoors, has a deep fascination with history and ancient cultures and understands what life at a dig entails, then I highly recommend exploring it as a career possibility,” Lee said.