In the summer time...again

Cripes this is embarrassing. It has only almost been...A YEAR since I last posted. So let me give you lovelies the 411 of what I'm doing right now and then, in a later update I'll catch ya'll up to what I've been up to this year (or two by the next time I post).

This archaeology bug is still something that I have not quite been able to shake, so before I decide to devote some significant schooling time to pursuing this profession I've decided to partake in and archaeological survey course through Penn State. So right now I am sitting in the conference/classroom area in a monestary/Christian retreat, in a little village over looking the Bay of Iskenderun in Eastern Turkey. Unlike the archaeological excavations that I have done in the past this project is a) far more intensive academically and b) not an excavation at al.

So just what am I doing? Well, let me tell you:
Turkey is situated in an area that in ancient times used to be known as Asia Minor, and if you can recall into the deep dark recesses of your mind, you may remember that MANY civilizations have occupied this region. Everyone it seems from the Hittites to the Persians occupied Turkey at some point in time. Because of this long standing occupation (that continues to day), there are LOTS of archaeological sites to be found and excavated. However, to excavate one must aquire a permit from the Turkish government. But, it is almost impossible to get one. The best that can be done, in most and my project's case, is get the "OK" from the Turkish government to survey possible areas of interest (aka likely to be an archaeological site).

Surveying usually involves making very detailed topographical maps of an area, collecting artifacts that lie on the surface, and bringing in various specialists the "read" the topography on maps and at actual sites. In the hopes that sometime down the line an intensive excavation to the area can be done.

So from May 28 until June 26, I'll be dashing throughout fields and over hills taking coordinates or picking up pottery

After June 26 I move on to phase two of my Turkish summer, whereby I will participate in one of the few foreign excavations happening in the area. This project get a loophole to my earlier "it's almost impossible to get and excavation permit" statement because this project has been operational for the better part of a decade.

So that's it for now. Again, I'll give particulars on what I've been up to this year and what I've been up to since I got to Turkey two weeks ago, but later. Now I must sleep as I am going to be up in 3 hours.

Cheers and Love,
~Abby~