Irmah by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
Adela touches on the satellite remote sensing work she did at Zagora with her colleague, Petra Janouchova. Her post portrays the hard work but also the great fun that can be had in archaeology.
And congratulations to Adela and her partner, Shawn Ross, on the birth of their baby, Vivienne, in December.
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
Artisan jeweller, Eftihios Tsivourakis, who creates and sells jewellery in his shop*, Batsi Gold, kindly demonstrated the ancient technique of mould-making using cuttlefish bone to some of us who were on Andros for the Zagora Archaeological Project in October 2013. In the video (6 mins 26 secs), below, he uses this technique to make a sterling silver pendant, an approximately 2/3 replica tetradrachm (coin) of Athens, c. 449 – 413 BCE.
by Petra Janouchova,
Archaeologist
Why did you want to work on Zagora?
I used to read about Zagora in my textbooks and it never occurred me that I would be one day able to come and work here. So when Adela (Dr Adela Sobotkova, from the University of New South Wales) asked me to come with her to do the Remote Sensing project at Zagora in 2013, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
I think that the site is amazing and and there is still so much to reveal in the future. It has enormous potential and I am lucky to be part of it at least for a short period.
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
If you’re in Sydney and wondering what to do with the children in your care these school holidays, why not give them an opportunity to explore an archaeologically themed activity? There are great programs these holidays at Sydney Observatory and the Nicholson Museum. The objects pictured at right were excavated from Fort Phillip at Sydney Observatory.
Sydney Observatory (up on Observatory Hill in Millers Point, just above The Rocks in Sydney) offers not only astronomy and meteorological exhibits and programs but also popular hands-on archaeological activities, linked to the archaeological work undertaken in recent years at Fort Phillip, within Sydney Observatory grounds. The excavations revealed substantial, intact foundations of the Fort (built in 1804-1806) and its bomb-proof chamber.
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
Check out the entry of Dr Archondia Thanos, Honorary Research Associate and Lecturer at the University of Sydney in our Archaeology Q&As, giving her perspective of archaeology as a career.
Here’s a glimpse:
“Archaeology examines all aspects of the human condition. That is why it appeals to so many people. It allows us to understand the human journey through time, what has brought us to this particular point of our story as entities of the world and where we may end up hundreds of years from now. It is a great teacher. The future always seems to have happened before to some degree.”
Powerhouse Museum curator and archaeologist, Paul Donnelly (and my Powerhouse parter in the Zagora Archaeological Project), arranged for a display (pictured at right) at the Powerhouse Museum to introduce visitors to the Zagora project and to raise awareness about the particularly close association of the Powerhouse with archaeology.
by Damien Stone,
Archaeologist
Previous to this, being a volunteer with the conservation and collection management team at Sydney University’s Nicholson Museum, I have been blessed with the opportunity to have handled artefacts from various civilisations, though these have all long been removed from their original context.
Archaeologist
The Greek name “monopati” means pathway, and the Cycladic Islands are commonly characterised by their famous ones. Farmers and shepherds use these “monopati” to reach their fields on slopes. It is not rare to meet there a wise man on his donkey contemplating silently the changes of nature.
What I’m going to describe to you here is another story, which has for its main actors a different kind of observer: the archaeologists.
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
Following are photos featuring members of the 2013 Zagora Archaeological Project team wearing hats or scarves – valuable Sun and wind protection in the field. Most are published here for the first time but some have illustrated other posts on this blog.
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
Today is the last day on site for the Zagora 2013 team. Yesterday and today were dedicated to backfilling the trenches to protect and conserve them, after excavations were completed on Thursday. People have pushed themselves to the limits of their endurance this week to get everything done carefully, properly and to the very best of their ability.
Frankly, I’ve never seen people work harder. Or care more about what they’re doing.