UNEARTHING THE PAST SINCE 1900
  • BECOME A MEMBER
  • RENEW
  • GIVE NOW
  • SEARCH
  • ONLINE PORTAL
  • American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)
  • ABOUT
    • WELCOME FROM ASOR OFFICERS
    • FACTS & FIGURES
    • MISSION, BYLAWS, & STRATEGIC PLAN
    • HISTORY OF ASOR
    • COMMITTEES
    • POLICIES
    • FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
    • ARCHIVES
    • AFFILIATED PROJECTS
    • AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS
    • ASOR’s Honors and Awards
    • CONTACT US
  • CULTURAL
    HERITAGE
    • ABOUT CULTURAL HERITAGE INITIATIVES
    • UPDATES
    • TUTORIALS
    • Who We Are
  • ANNUAL
    MEETING
    • REGISTRATION
    • HOTEL RESERVATIONS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULES
    • SPONSOR & EXHIBIT
    • ASOR Online Library
    • HONORS & AWARDS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • PAST & FUTURE ANNUAL MEETINGS
  • MEMBERSHIP
    & RESOURCES
    • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • NEWS@ASOR
    • PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH
    • ONLINE RESOURCES
    • PHOTO COLLECTION
    • EARLY CAREER MEMBER RESOURCES
  • FELLOWSHIPS
    & GRANTS
    • SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIELDWORK PARTICIPATION
    • GRANTS FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS
    • RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR MEMBERS
    • MEMBERSHIP & ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • ASOR-AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS FELLOWSHIPS
    • OTHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • BOOK SERIES & MONOGRAPHS
    • BULLETIN OF ASOR
    • JOURNAL OF CUNEIFORM STUDIES
    • MAARAV
    • NEAR EASTERN ARCHAEOLOGY
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • LEVANTINE CERAMICS PROJECT
  • FRIENDS
    OF ASOR
    • Webinars
    • TOURS
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • ASOR ONLINE LIBRARY
  • Donate
    • FY24 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE
    • WAYS TO DONATE
Gigi post banner

 SHARE

 
 
 
 
 

NEWS@ASOR E-NEWSLETTER

ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY E-NEWSLETTER

PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH

ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS

LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

FY25 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

ASOR ANNUAL MEETING

Archaeology: A Deeply Human Endeavor

Sarah “Gigi” Konecki-Brazeal, 2024 P.E. MacAllister Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient 

First surveyed in the 60s and left untouched for decades, Antiochia ad Cragum is a first-century Roman city founded by Antiochus IV of Commagene around 44 CE. Perched on the “cragus” roughly 300M above the Mediterranean, the city has yielded many great finds over the past 20 years, including two bathing complexes and a plethora of questions about the evolution of this city from a bustling polis to a site of extensive industry. At some point in this city’s lifespan, many of the buildings, including both bath complexes, were converted to industry. Evidence of wine and oil production, as well as ceramic, glass, and metal production, have been found throughout the site.

A view of the Mediterranean from Antiochia ad Cragum.

Excavations began on the Small Bath in 2018 and will continue for the foreseeable future. This type of bath is known as a hall bath and might be a bit unfamiliar to those already versed in Roman bathing complexes. The architecture of the bath situates a great hall with mosaiced floors through the center of the building with tepidaria (cold rooms) and caldaria (hot rooms) on either side. The hall leads to a large wading pool on the west end of the complex, and the building itself has one main entrance on the east end. To date, three frigidaria and one caldarium have been excavated. In addition, the cistern for the bathing complex was uncovered entirely during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. It is suspected that two more caldaria exist along the southern side of the complex, and there is the hope of locating the praefurnium there as well.

Me, perched on a rock digging in an area precariously peppered with finds. A great way to avoid artifact breakage!

In the summer of 2022, I came to Antiochia ad Cragum as an undergrad, looking to fulfill my field school requirement and find out if I had what it took to work in the field of archaeology. I was sent to the small bath to work under the direction of Dr. Leticia Rodriguez, and I had no idea what to expect. It was A LOT of digging, and A LOT of giant rocks, and A LOT of wheelbarrows. In the second week Dr. Rodriguez decided to open up Frigidarium 4 on the westside of the Small Bath and asked for volunteers. Frigidarium 4 was almost entirely full of fill that had washed down the mountainside and into the now roofless room. It looked like an impossible task, and nobody really wanted to start at the beginning again, especially when the trenches that had been opened the previous week were starting to look like something. So naturally, I volunteered. Again, it was nothing but dirt and large rocks which had fallen from the wall or ceiling. It was hot, it was dirty, my legs and arms felt like noodles at the end of the day…and I couldn’t wait to go back.

Frigidarium 4 at the end of the 2024 season

What should have taken a couple of weeks to clear and document has now taken us three seasons to uncover, with no sign of a floor at the end of the 2024 season. Since removing surface fill, Frigidarium 4 has yielded many spectacular finds owing to its conversion to a trash pit sometime (we think) in the fifth century. They say you can learn much about a man by going through his trash, and I agree. Everything these people were doing, using, making, participating in, and ultimately discarding have been found in my trench. We have learned so much about what these people were doing and what they found valuable by examining the findings from Frigidarium 4. Detritus from industry, personal items, evidence of what people ate, and the animals they raised – not only for food but for textile production – have all been found in Frigidarium 4, which still has more to tell us.

Digging a sondage in a last-ditch effort to locate the floor before covering Frigidarium 4 up for the off season.

The connection one feels to the people of the past when finding and carefully preserving their once-lost history isn’t easy to put into words, but it keeps me coming back year after year. Every season, we get a little closer to uncovering these peoples’ stories and piecing together the lives of those who were, up until now, forgotten. There is a beauty in unearthing something that once sat in the hands of a person over 1500 years ago, a strange intimacy with someone whose name you can never know and whose face you will never see. Additionally, there is an overwhelming sense of civic duty that comes with uncovering these items and sending them home to a conservation lab or museum where they will find new life. These things belonged to people once, and those people have been forgotten. But with our work in Antiochia ad Cragum, they live again, and the Turkish people reclaim a piece of their heritage that they may not have realized they’d lost.

Ultimately, archaeology is a profoundly human endeavor that contributes to a sense of connection: connection to our past and to each other. A connection that bridges borders, cultures, and time. A connection that I hope, brings us all closer to one another on the most fundamental of levels.

The humans of the Small Bath 2024.

Sarah “Gigi” Konecki-Brazeal is a graduate student at Arizona State University studying Art History, Archaeology, and Studio Art. She is a practicing artist who merges her artistic work with her academic research. In addition to being a trench supervisor and field assistant and Antiochia ad Cragum, Gigi also works as an illustrator and lithic analyst for the Bandafassi Regional Archeological Project. She plans to write her dissertation on ancient tattooing practices and go on to teach at the university level while continuing her fieldwork in Turkey and beyond.

Learn more about the Antiochia ad Cragum Archaeological Research Project here. 

Want to help more students and early career archaeologists get into the field? Donate to the cause today by selecting “Fieldwork Scholarships” as your gift purpose!

Recent Posts

  • Thank You Fiscal Year 2025 Donors
  • DC Day of Archaeology 2025
  • Table of Contents for Near Eastern Archaeology 88.2 (2025)
  • McKinley Tech Turns Cemeteries into a Living Classroom
  • Don’t Miss It! —ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration

Latest Posts from @ASORResearch

asor_research

Initiating and supporting research of the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world.


Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early
Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early to think about your fall calendar. The Annual Meeting Program-at-a-Glance, as well as information about business meetings and special events, can be found on the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting Schedules Page. Make sure to include the plenary address by Timothy P. Harrison and ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration when you plan your ASOR 2025 itinerary. Check it out by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/am/2025/schedules-2025) in our bio.


We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has o
We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has officially come to a close, and ASOR has set a record member participation rate for gifts this year thanks to our generous donors. It is truly gratifying to see our members and friends choosing to invest in ASOR and helping us make our work possible. Thank you again for your support!


ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of
ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of Archaeology Festival by @aitc_dc this past Saturday, June 28 at Tudor Place. The ASOR table included activities like a sandbox to dig up artifacts, puzzles, trivia, plus posters about our organization and free journals to give out! Read more by clicking the link in our bio. #dcdayofarchaeology


To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: F
To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: Funerary model of cow giving birth. Probably from Meir, Egypt, c. 2040 – 1985 BCE. Royal Ontario Museum 910.18.16.1. Photo courtesy of ROM: https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/184967


What is a god? While the question is simple enough
What is a god? While the question is simple enough, the answer depends on context and perspective. Read the first article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the newest Ancient Near East Today by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/god-ancient-near-east/) in our bio.


Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for
Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event organized by @aitc_dc from 10AM to 3PM for music, food, and fun activities!


This spring, McKinley Tech High School students ex
This spring, McKinley Tech High School students explored Black Georgetown’s legacy at Mt. Zion–Female Union Band Historic Memorial Park. Through virtual reality and archaeological research, the program encouraged students to engage with the history of Black communities and experiences in Washington, D.C. Read the story by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/mckinley-tech-mt-zion) in our bio!


ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society
ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society organizations and conservation projects as a way for them to be part of the ASOR community. Applications are reviewed by ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Committee. ASOR-affiliated projects are eligible for Shepard Urgent Action Grants. Learn how to apply for affiliation with the link in our bio.


Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on on
Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on one of the most famous sites in the ancient Near East—Megiddo. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/nea88.2-toc/) in our bio.


ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year
ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year’s Arab Network of Civil Society Organizations to Safeguard Cultural Heritage (ANSCH) Conference on May 28–29. ASOR spoke on the types of free resources available through ASOR for civil society organizations in the region, including tutorials for cultural heritage surveys, funding through Shepard Urgent Action Grants, and the ability to join the ASOR community as affiliates. Read more by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/06/asor-ansch-conference) in our bio.


ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join
ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join the celebration by participating in a special dinner event on Saturday night at this year’s Annual Meeting in Boston!

We’ll be kicking off the festive occasion at 6:45 pm on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. Join us for an evening of great dining, entertainment, and ASOR-themed activities, as well as speakers who have been part of ASOR’s mission. Regular dinner tickets cost $100, but to ensure that everyone can attend, we are offering discount codes for reduced ticket prices of $25 and $50. Read more and register for the event by clicking the link in our bio!


In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing
In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing a household. What were the expectations of wives and what do we know about women’s rights when entering into—or leaving—marriage? Read the newest ANE Today by Alison Wilkinson by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/ancient-egypt-marriage/) in our bio.


Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scho
Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated at Tel Burna in the Shephelah hills of Israel. Drawing from personal reflections and field experience, Gabbi shares what it was like to dig in this storied landscape. Read her fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/fieldwork-report-graber) in our bio.


As you embark on fieldwork and research this summe
As you embark on fieldwork and research this summer, ASOR invites you to make submissions to our Virtual Archaeology Initiative. The Virtual Archaeology Initiative is a growing collection of digital resources that illustrate or teach various steps involved in the archaeological process. Read more about the initiative by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/virtual-archaeology-initiative-submissions) in our bio. Submissions can be sent to info@asor.org.


Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, w
Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, with fascinating articles like Nabatean Tent Sites on the Ruhot Plain, Central Negev, and Nomadic Visibility; Olive Oil Production in the North-East Temple of Canaanite Lachish; Qaṭrāyīṯ and the Linguistic History of Ancient East Arabia, and much more. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/basor393-toc/) in our bio.


Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on
Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on BASONOVA & BAF lectures. On Tuesday, June 10 at 8pm ET via Zoom, Elizabeth Bloch-Smith (Princeton Theological Seminary) will present "Hearing the Voices of the Dead in Ancient Israel". The witch of Endor was consulted by Saul to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This presentation examines the Zeitgeist and theology behind Isaiah 8, where the deceased Samuel speaks to King Saul (1 Samuel 28), and alongside considers tales of the talking dead from Mesopotamia, Hatti (Hittites) and Greece. Register here: https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html


Dominique Langis-Barsetti, a 2024 Katherine Barton
Dominique Langis-Barsetti, a 2024 Katherine Barton Platt Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated with the Kerkenes Project in the central Anatolian plateau last spring. As an associate director on the project, Dominique encountered various situations that required her to overcome logistical and environmental challenges with quick thinking and creativity. Read her fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/fieldwork-report-langisbarsetti) in our bio.


ASOR invites members to submit poster proposals fo
ASOR invites members to submit poster proposals for the Poster Session as part of the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting. Posters are an ideal format for presenting archaeological projects in general, a technical aspect of your project, or a spectacular find from the field season. Poster abstracts of 250 words may be submitted in the ASOR Abstract Center between now and August 1. Please read the Call for Posters (https://www.asor.org/am/2025/posters-2025) by clicking the link in our bio.


Once believed to be the location of Herod’s Augu
Once believed to be the location of Herod’s Augusteum, the cave at Paneas has yielded up some surprising discoveries following recent excavations. Read the newest ANE Today by Adi Erlich and Ron Lavi by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/pan-grotto-paneas/) in our bio.


Join ASOR for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Fe
Join ASOR for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival, organized by @aitc_dc, on Saturday, June 28 at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event for music, food, and activities, and make sure to check out ASOR's table!



Instagram

Stay updated with the latest insights, photos, and news by following us on Instagram!

Follow Us on Instagram

American Society of Overseas Research
The James F. Strange Center
209 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

E-mail: info@asor.org

© 2025 ASOR
All rights reserved.
Images licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Contact Us
Membership
Give
Friends of ASOR
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives
Terms of Use
News

Please follow & like us :)
Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn