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.
by Dr Peter Londey
Classics and Ancient History, School of Cultural Inquiry
Australian National University
So there I was, genteel historian of ancient Greece (I am a lecturer at the Australian National University), kneeling among the rocks of Zagora, dust and dirt being blown over my face, in my eyes, in my hair, while I scratched the ground with my brand new Battiferro trowel, wondering why exactly I was there.
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Website Producer
Excavation Area 5 (EA5) is at the extreme southern end of the Zagora site. The trench here is being supervised by my Powerhouse colleague, curator and archaeologist, Dr Paul Donnelly. This area, on the far side of the distant modern field wall that is seen as you walk down to the site (see photo, below), has never been excavated before. Because the Zagora Archaeological Project is trying to obtain an overall picture of the site, it is important to sample intensively all areas of the site, including this southern, relatively unknown area of the site.
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Website Producer
Excavation Area 4 (EA4) was one of two areas (the other being EA3) where test trenches were excavated last year. Kristen Mann was supervisor of the test trench here last year and continues to supervise it this year.
Kristen is doing PhD research into households, including the spatial patterning of behaviour – that is, how the layout of buildings, rooms, spaces in and between buildings, pathways, communal spaces, etc. influences people’s behaviour, and also about the choices people make to adapt their spaces to fit their needs.
Excavation Area 4 appears particularly well suited to her research – about which there will be more in a future post.
Answer text by Marco Schugk
Posted by Irma Havlicek
I sent a list of questions to our Zagora 2013 participants to get an idea of why they participated in Zagora 2013. Here is the reply from Marco Schugk, a 2013 Zagora volunteer:
Why did you want to work on Zagora?
Zagora is probably one of the most important and well-known settlements of the Geometric Period in Greece. While studying Classical Archaeology (in Germany) this site emerges in every important course of study concerning the Geometric era so I wanted to contribute to this research program.
I also wanted to work on the Zagora Archaeological Project because I haven’t worked on an excavation focussing on the material findings of this period before and I wanted to expand my knowledge and my experience in interacting with the associated remains of Zagora.
Answer text by Annette Dukes
Posted by Irma Havlicek
Powerhouse Museum Web Producer
I sent a list of questions to our Zagora 2013 participants to get an idea of why they participated in Zagora 2013. Here is the reply from Annette Dukes, a 2013 Zagora volunteer:
Why did you want to work on Zagora?
We all have “bucket lists” – the things we wish we could do. I had always wanted to be part of a dig team, and I had my first opportunity last year and am now hooked. Money, opportunity and time permitting I intend to attend as many as possible. After returning from volunteering on the excavations at Paphos, Cyprus, last year, I joined the Friends of the Nicholson Museum. I am also a member of Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens (AAIA) and Near Eastern Archaeological Foundation (NEAF) which gives me the opportunity to attend many interesting lectures and information events. It was at one of these events that I found out about the project at Zagora. I also had conversations with friends who had been to the excavation last year (2012) and so was keen to be part of the project.