Dickinson students from the Department of Classical Studies/Archaeology Program are spending the summer in Mycenae, Greece participating in the excavations, archaeological survey, investigation and research of the legendary Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae and its surrounding area in the region of Argolid, Greece. Student Breanne Clifton '08 sent this update to vice president Robert Massa, who had visited the site earlier in the summer.
Hi from Greece! We're reaching the end of our excavation for the summer, but we still seem to continuously become busier and busier. We just finished an amazing all weekend trip around the Pelopponese to some amazing sites. We visited everything from medieval castles, to Byzantium Mistras, to ancient Pylos. We even managed to fit in a trip to Olympia on our way back to Mycenae (a few people are still recovering from the foot race).
Before we left for the weekend trip some of us had another fascinating experience. Wednesday night five of us climbed a nearby mountain to celebrate the name day for St. Elijah. There is a small sanctuary at the top of the mountain that looms to the north over the citadel of Mycenae, built in an extremely traditional style (plaster floor, mud brick, wooden cross beams). The entire festival was a unique mix of ancient and modern Greek culture. They built a large fire and roasted spits of meat, drank and did traditional Greek dancing. They sang, danced, and ate until the sun rose. We tried to keep up with them, but I must admit by five a.m. I had fallen asleep on a secluded cliff. As soon as the sun was high enough we started back down the mountain to head straight to the site on the citadel for work. The mountain becomes more passable about half way down, so from there we caught a ride on a tractor trailer. At the break-neck speed we were hurdling down the mountain and across the orchards, we reached the citadel by 7:00 a.m., only half an hour late. I will definitely remember that as one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Of course everything that has happened here I will remember forever. I will remember sifting on the citadel in nearly gale force winds that blinded me and literally cut another girl's skin open. I will remember chatting with the villagers, the breath taking clear blue beaches between mountains and even the cats that plague us at every meal, adorably begging for food. I will also remember the excitement today of the possible discovery of a new cross wall that might mark the north end of the building we've been excavating. Of course there is still a week left, and thus plenty of more time for engaging Greece, ancient and modern.
Best Wishes from Greece!
Breanne Clifton '08
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