The last week has been quite slow on the survey side, largely because of the rain, but despite the vagaries of weather, there's been a lot going on!
I've continued to work on the database of finds at the Georgian National Museum, expanding my language skills by translating the information from Georgian to English. A combination of charades, mnemonic devices and sheer repetition has done wonders for my archaeological vocabulary! It's both exhilarating and exhausting. I'm so grateful to have a patient team, willing to sit by me as I make mistakes and cheer me on when I succeed.
On Tuesday, one of my survey team members defended his PhD dissertation, which was so exciting! (Congratulations, Nika!) It was really interesting to see how a doctoral defense works in Georgia and a lot of fun to celebrate this huge accomplishment with a new friend! There were a lot more speeches and a bit less conversation than typical for the US, but the most interesting thing was how the defense was an opportunity for the archaeological community of Tbilisi to come together. There were History and Archaeology faculty and students from multiple universities, the Georgian National Museum, and the Center of Archaeology. It was wonderful to see a lot of old friends and such an amazing opportunity to meet new colleagues. (It was also my first feast this summer, which naturally made me happy!)
Yesterday, I went to see the opening of a new archaeological exhibit at the Gori Historical-Ethnographical Museum. It's an excellent collection, running from the Kura-Araxes culture of the Early Bronze Age through the Iron Age. Though the museum is small (only four rooms, one per period), I think it's exactly right for an introduction to the characteristic styles of each era. I also thought that the layout was excellent--putting objects with different purposes and of different materials close to each other, in context, as they ought to be.
Then several friends and I had cutlets at Sport Cafe in Gori, which is supposed to be famous for them. (I thought they were quite tasty, but my friends tell me they were much better two or three years ago.) In case anyone is seeking the best meat patty in the region.
Today, I went to a dig house in Mtskheta, where there is a renovation project which requires the archaeological materials and library housed there to be moved out. I was there to determine whether any of the collection was relevant to my research. I spent the entire day pouring over journals in Georgian and Russian, looking for Early and Middle Bronze Age skeletal materials. As it turns out, it's quite challenging to switch back and forth quickly between three alphabets. However, it was also something of a reaffirming experience. I did manage to work through more than a dozen volumes, and found several sites of which I hadn't been previously aware. And not only are there new sites, but there are actual osteological (bone) samples! That I will hopefully be able to use for analysis!
Every time I write a post, it seems like there's another group of wonderful people that are helping my experience in Georgia, both professionally and personally. It's an ever-expanding list. At this rate, the acknowledgment section of my dissertation is going to be a chapter of its own!
I've continued to work on the database of finds at the Georgian National Museum, expanding my language skills by translating the information from Georgian to English. A combination of charades, mnemonic devices and sheer repetition has done wonders for my archaeological vocabulary! It's both exhilarating and exhausting. I'm so grateful to have a patient team, willing to sit by me as I make mistakes and cheer me on when I succeed.
On Tuesday, one of my survey team members defended his PhD dissertation, which was so exciting! (Congratulations, Nika!) It was really interesting to see how a doctoral defense works in Georgia and a lot of fun to celebrate this huge accomplishment with a new friend! There were a lot more speeches and a bit less conversation than typical for the US, but the most interesting thing was how the defense was an opportunity for the archaeological community of Tbilisi to come together. There were History and Archaeology faculty and students from multiple universities, the Georgian National Museum, and the Center of Archaeology. It was wonderful to see a lot of old friends and such an amazing opportunity to meet new colleagues. (It was also my first feast this summer, which naturally made me happy!)
Yesterday, I went to see the opening of a new archaeological exhibit at the Gori Historical-Ethnographical Museum. It's an excellent collection, running from the Kura-Araxes culture of the Early Bronze Age through the Iron Age. Though the museum is small (only four rooms, one per period), I think it's exactly right for an introduction to the characteristic styles of each era. I also thought that the layout was excellent--putting objects with different purposes and of different materials close to each other, in context, as they ought to be.
Then several friends and I had cutlets at Sport Cafe in Gori, which is supposed to be famous for them. (I thought they were quite tasty, but my friends tell me they were much better two or three years ago.) In case anyone is seeking the best meat patty in the region.
Today, I went to a dig house in Mtskheta, where there is a renovation project which requires the archaeological materials and library housed there to be moved out. I was there to determine whether any of the collection was relevant to my research. I spent the entire day pouring over journals in Georgian and Russian, looking for Early and Middle Bronze Age skeletal materials. As it turns out, it's quite challenging to switch back and forth quickly between three alphabets. However, it was also something of a reaffirming experience. I did manage to work through more than a dozen volumes, and found several sites of which I hadn't been previously aware. And not only are there new sites, but there are actual osteological (bone) samples! That I will hopefully be able to use for analysis!
Every time I write a post, it seems like there's another group of wonderful people that are helping my experience in Georgia, both professionally and personally. It's an ever-expanding list. At this rate, the acknowledgment section of my dissertation is going to be a chapter of its own!
