Digging Through Time: My Adventure in Archaeology
Hania Kantzer, 2023 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient
If you had asked me a year ago if I’d be up for working eight hours a day, six days a week, in the summer heat, starting at around 5 am every morning, I probably wouldn’t have been as enthusiastic as I am now. However, almost as soon as I began, I realized what an honor, what an unforgettable experience, and what an education it was!
Huqoq, an ancient Jewish village nestled about three miles to the west of Capernaum and Migdal (Magdala) in the Galilee region of Israel, has been the site of ongoing excavations since 2011. Dr. Jodi Magness of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, leading the excavation, has unearthed a remarkable Late Roman synagogue dating back to the early fifth century C.E. This synagogue is adorned with mosaics which not only depict a range of biblical scenes but also mark the very first instance of a non-biblical narrative ever discovered in an ancient synagogue. When I was working for the Center for Jewish Studies on campus at my school, I presented to many classrooms (once, even to Professor Magness’ class) about this excavation as a possible research opportunity. Whether I persuaded others very well, I don’t know, but I definitely convinced myself! I ended up applying to join her team for Summer 2023.
Sunrise at the kibbutz.
On the first day of the dig, right after getting introduced to our fellow team members, we dove straight into work. That routine carried us through the next five weeks. My alarm was always set for 4:11, which gave me precisely 19 minutes to change into my work clothes, splash my face with cold water, fill my water bottle, apply sunscreen, have a quick bite of a cracker, and catch the bus. During the bus ride, we’d all exchange groggy glances, then trek down a dusty road to reach our excavation site. We’d hurriedly set up our shade cloths just as the sun started to rise. Witnessing the sunrises every morning became one of my most cherished memories of the excavation. Orange light from the east and the cool morning air made me forget any reluctance I had about getting up early. It was during this time that our area supervisor would brief us on the day’s tasks.
In the beginning, I started with relatively simpler tasks like carrying buckets or sweeping exposed pavement. Gradually, I progressed to more complex responsibilities, such as sifting for artifacts. After a minor hand injury, I was temporarily assigned breakfast duty. However, I soon returned to the field, where I tackled tasks like articulating walls and revealing plaster. I even learned how to take elevations and document our finds. The variety of assignments the area supervisors had for us ensured that we kept gaining experience and improving our archaeological skills. Boredom was certainly never an issue! We worked closely with professors and experts in different materials who patiently explained concepts as we advanced.
Me working on site (Photo credit: Jim Haberman).
Following our 8 a.m. breakfast and a refreshing watermelon break around 11 a.m., with plenty of water breaks in between to stay hydrated, we would dismantle the shade cloths and make our way back for a lengthy, comprehensive shower, followed by an even more lengthy and comprehensive lunch. Postlunch, our tasks typically involved cleaning potsherds and organizing our finds. Often, later in the afternoon, we were able to attend lectures delivered by experts specializing in conservation, pottery, mosaics, plasters, and glass. They had already been invaluable resources during our working hours, but listening to them delve deeper into their expertise was truly fascinating. After supper, we were free to play pickup basketball games on the kibbutz’s court, hike up a nearby mountain to watch the sun set, or simply enjoy card games in the courtyard. Our evenings usually wrapped up around 8 p.m., as I prepared to turn in for the night, knowing that come the next morning, the familiar schedule would resume.
Once or twice a week, we had the opportunity to visit other excavation sites, both ongoing and completed. This was such a cool way to contextualize our own work! Halfway through our dig, we embarked on a weekend trip to Jordan, with stops at remarkable sites like Machaerus and the Madaba map. It was a fantastic chance for us to unwind for a couple of days, be tourists, and immerse ourselves in the local culture of the region we had been diligently working in for an extended period.
I can’t say that I didn’t expect how talented, hardworking, and experienced the professors I worked under were; the knowledge they imparted to us students was extraordinary just like their CVs would tell you. What I did not expect was the level of personal support and kindness they extended. I will never forget how these experts at the top of their field still made time to guide me, an undergraduate fresh out of my first year in college. They didn’t just lead by example; they also provided invaluable mentorship. Months later, I am still brushing off the dust from my work clothes, yet what remains even more vividly from this experience than the dust on my belongings or the treasured trowel displayed on my shelf are the wonderful memories of my first adventure in archaeology!
Hania Kantzer is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying chemistry and Asian studies. This past summer, she was a grateful recipient of the Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scholarship through ASOR, and was able to work as a student researcher on the Huqoq Excavation Project.
For more information about the Huqoq Excavation Project visit the project website:
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Syeda Sukena Zehra is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto specializing in archaeology with a keen interest in South-Asian and Near and Middle Eastern civilizations. Sukena aims to explore the transnational interrelationships which build culture and politics.
