Archaeology Students, the Academic Artists

By: Justin Yoo, 2011 Platt Fellow

I once heard it said about artists, that they essentially go through life as ‘beggars.’ Even when they are employed, they are always looking for their next job and meal. Sometimes as a graduate student in archaeology, I feel we students can relate to this notion. We are beholden to the goodwill and munificence of universities, professors, the government, and family—and my own experience is that they all have helped finance, in some way fund, the essential education and training required to follow an academic dream that most would call nothing more than a fool’s errand.

Two summers ago, in addition to ASOR’s funding, I was very lucky to have had support from the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s excavation at Tell Timai. Since I was a supervisor, I benefited from having all expenses paid for while at the site. I thought it extremely generous of the directors, Dr. Littman and Dr. Silverstein to offer me this, considering the cost of participation for students at this first rate field school is more than I would have been able to afford otherwise. My tuition, fees, and books at UCL were paid for by a combination of grants, loans and savings, leaving little left over for dig related expenses. In addition to this, during the academic year I had three volunteer jobs/internships: one with a UK based research/charitable organization (the EES), one with the British Institute in Amman, and finally as a mentor for youth in a north London school. Because of this, I found I no time to get another job and very little left over for dig related expenses.

The Platt fellowship, which I was kindly granted with the support of ASOR’s esteemed membership, allowed me to continue my training — and help train even younger student archaeologists — with dignity, and without financial worries hanging over my head whilst in Egypt. With it, I was able to pay for travel expenses, lodging before and after the excavation, supplies, and travel insurance—the last of which came in handy when I got food poisoning towards the end of the excavation. The application process was straightforward, and notification of the award was prompt. Most importantly, and no price tag can be attributed to this — I furthered my own training and worked with fellow supervisors, students and native Egyptians — colleagues that I can now also proudly call ‘friends.’ I feel very fortunate to have had ASOR’s help and ultimately, it ensured that I wouldn’t spend an insecure summer worrying about finances while on excavation, or perhaps not even having been able to have gone. Instead, I was able to have a fulfilling summer working as an archaeologist.

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As you know, ASOR’s mission is to support archaeology in the Near East, and now we have an exciting opportunity for you to support students of archaeology directly! Every year ASOR gives out around 30 Platt and Heritage Fellowships to deserving students to defray the costs of excavating in the Near East. Thanks to last year’s March Fellowship Madness drive we gave out a total of 42 scholarships and we are trying to beat that number this year.

Our goal is to raise $10,000, and if we succeed, two generous donors will give funding for four additional fellowships, meaning a total of 14 additional students will get funding this year! Help us seize this opportunity to send more students into the field! Donate now!

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