So today Brandon, Dave, and I went to the Larnaka museum and were able to obtain the keys for the exterior storage area where our material from PKAP is currently stored. The museum staff knew we were coming and were as helpful as they always are. In fact, at every museum we have gone to work, the staff has always been super helpful and friendly. The area around Terra Ombra (the storage facility) had been cleaned recently, doors painted, etc. – looked good. We spent the 
requisite two hours trying to figure out where everything was, what needed to be done, and how best to accomplish it. We are actually in pretty good shape, the material from last year
was organized and in the proper place. It was where we placed it at the end of last year and the tags were written clearly. A good sign and it meant we were able to get started right away on trying to process the material and did not waste time in reorganizing the material.
About the time we were actually ready to begin, Dave’s three students (from Messiah) showed up and pitched in. Brandon decided to start drawing artifacts that he had pulled last year for inventorying. Dave took the time to teach the students how to label and catalogue artifacts, and so I decided to help draw ceramic profiles – an important part of any catalogue. Most ceramicists can draw profiles, but I have always resisted. So, this was a big step for me. If art classes in school have taught me anything, it is that I do not have a lot of talent. In fact, at my first underwater field school in Lake Superior, when I was at East Carolina working on my MA in Maritime 
History and Underwater Archaeology, the draftsperson who was compiling our underwater sketches and measurements into a site plan always looked like she wanted to kill me because she could not figure out what I was trying to draw. [Sorry for the low resolution image, but it is all I have – I am the one drawing in the bottom right] So, on one hand while past experience says I have no artistic ability, on the other hand both my mom and daughter are extremely talented artists – so maybe I do have some talent? And if Brandon is good at it, how hard can it be? [Actually he is very good at it and it is not easy to do, just don’t tell him I said so.]
So I gave it a shot. I got out all the necessary equipment (gauge, calipers, pencil, eraser, french curves, graph paper, tape, and of course my iPod with Journey on it). Brandon was actually helpful and got me started and answered my questions whenever I asked him something. He also gave me a lot of stupid advice – to be good at drawing profiles, I am supposed to listen only to country music, or put fries in my pita sandwiches, etc. – not helpful. I actually think I have a flair for it, no matter what Brandon says. I was able to finish 11 profiles, while Brandon did about 25. I noticed a couple of things: 1) time flew while drawing; 2) I have to erase a lot; and 3) after I finished my first drawing and stood up – my left shoulder (I am right-handed) felt like it was locked in place. I guess I use my left arm to brace myself while drawing and doing that for a length of time caused a bit of pain….no, a lot of pain. I complained enough about it that everyone told me to shut up about it or made old timer jokes. I am worried that I will have to go on the 15 Day Archaeology DL.
We worked all day non-stop. When I was looking for drawing supplies, I found some of our PKAP stuff tucked away in boxes that had not been opened in several years. It was amazing, I found some ceramic articles I had been missing for a few years, as well as all sorts of field equipment. For a while there in the first few years of PKAP, we were always bringing supplies over – it will be harder in the future since the airlines have cut back on both the number of pieces of luggage you can bring free, as well as the weight of the luggage. Dave ran to the bakery and bought us sandwiches and chips – unfortunately no new flavors of chips to try. I settled for salt and vinegar. The sandwiches were actually pretty good, they had been made that morning and the bread was really fresh. Before we knew it, our day was over – we have to have the keys back to the museum by 3:30. So we locked everything up and ran the keys back to the museum. We are now back at the hotel, and it looks like rain. It is very cloudy over the city. The goal now is to work on a few computer-related items, and prepare for tomorrow by icing down my shoulder.
RSM
Ancient History Ramblings 