by Nicole Findlay
The clamour of the 5:30 a.m. alarm was the worst part of Jessica Haskell’s day. Rising before dawn, irritation would slowly give way to anticipation of what the day’s labour might uncover.
Haskell, a fourth-year anthropology major, was one of a team of 25 students who spent a month this summer excavating Argilos, a Greek colony. Located along the Northern Aegean, the site is segmented into three excavations – an acropolis, a road and a slope dotted by the ruins of houses.
“Our trench and area were attempting to find the Classical occupation level and understand the architecture at the highest altitude of the site,” said Haskell.
Bronze button found in Argilos, Greece 2010
Bronze button found in Argilos, Greece 2010On the acropolis, Haskall’s trench eventually gave way to reveal the remains of a road and walls.
“I enjoyed the anticipation that builds progressively from the beginning of the excavation, when the ground is initially covered in weeds and loose topsoil, to the uncovering of ancient material that you know hasn’t been touched or disturbed in two thousand years,” said Haskell.
It was this same enthusiasm that would transform the drudgery of hacking through sun-hardened layers of soil and tangled tree roots into an adventure into the past.
The summer yielded the thrill of discovering bronze coins, iron and bronze nails, sling bullets, a button and a decorated vase almost completely intact.
Earlier excavations had uncovered an olive press.
The vase was both a thrill and a loss for Haskall. Although she held the pieces, she might never see the whole. The shards she discovred could be carted off to the museum for reassembly and restoration to its former glory.