We officially started the excavation on the 26th. For the first two weeks, I’ll be in the Small Finds room restoring coins and interpreting objects. For the last two, I’ll use our computer-aided design program to digitize the site plans for the excavation.
This means I get to wake up two hours later than everyone else, have tea whenever I want, stay reasonably clean, and (I forgot to mention) PLAY WITH SWEET ANCIENT OBJECTS!
Yesterday I cleaned two Roman coins, one of which became completely readable and bore the face of Constantine!
The only downside is that I’ll spend a few hours a day inhaling the cleaning acid. One of the directors told me I’m going to have “psychadellic dreams”!
Today was the most ridiculous day in the history of archaeological field trips.
We went to a Roman fortress site, Qasr Hamed Tulib, in Dakhleh’s neighboring oasis, Kharga, as part of a weekend field trip to give site presentations. One of my friends climbed up a sand hill and stumbled across two enormous (small-child size), COMPLETELY INTACT 3rd-century amphorae and a large ceremonial bowl. We all started rummaging through the sand and found SIX in all, every single one of them completely intact. THESE ARE 1700-YEAR-OLD VESSELS!
So we took some photos and started walking away to cart them off to the antiquities office in Kharga (because Qasr Hamed Tulib isn’t even the site where we’re excavating; we were just walking by when we found this cache), and one of my friends said that she was upset that she didn’t find a vessel herself. She then walked over to a sand hill a few feet away from the first and found A BIGGER FULLY INTACT AMPHORA, just sitting on top of the mound! It wasn’t even buried!
As we walked back to the bus we found two more. NINE VESSELS IN TOTAL.
On the bus Adam said, “I wonder if there’s anything in this one” (referring to an amphora he was holding on his lap as we smuggled them past the police at a roadside checkpoint on our way to the office). Lo and behold, inside was an adorable little lizard, probably a chameleon. We now have a house pet!
And…
What does it NOT do in the desert?
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RAIN.
That’s right, it doesn’t rain.
Well today and yesterday it rained for the first time IN 100 YEARS in the Sahara!
Unfortunately, this is not good, because our house is made of MUDBRICK! Yes, our house is now a mushy mess of mud. I have to wear sneakers to go to the bathroom. We also have no water as of this morning (ironic, isn’t it?).
Wow.
All I can say is WOW.
Ahlan biiku—be welcome.
I am in the Oasis, finally, after spending two wonderful days in Cairo. Cairo was a city of dichotomies: old and vibrant, filthy and beautiful. It reminds me of the Old City in Jerusalem.
In Cairo we met many friendly people, including a few tween boys who helped us on our quest for a flatiron (I really want one with a European plug; I’ve yet to purchase it).
We made it to Ahmeida last night after a 12-hour bus ride, broken up by stops at coffee shops and rest stops along the way. Our house is so beautiful! It’s huge, really. Like a little village in and of itself.
We had our first Arabic class about a half hour ago, which was exciting and daunting at the same time. I have a knack for languages, so I think I’ll be okay.
Pictures and video to come!
Jan 1 - Mar 26: Dakhleh & Cairo
Mar 26 - Apr 1: London
Apr 1 - Apr 4: Rome
Apr 4 - Apr 7: Jerusalem
Apr 7 - Jun 7: Kibbutz Bar’am
Jun 7 - Jun 15: Jerusalem
Jun 15 - Jul 3: Megiddo
Jul 3 - Jul 14: Visiting family & friends in Israel, hopping around, jetting to Cyprus (perhaps)
Jul 14: Cairo to fly home
Jul 15 - Jul 18: New York
Jul 18 - Jul 31: Cruise from Copenhagen to Northern Europe & Russia
Jul 31 - Aug 22: Travel? Brooklyn?
Aug 22: Back to the ‘nard
