IFR: Tunisia - Zita Field School

The Zita Project provided me with an enriched archaeological experience that not only allowed me to explore the unique areas of the site (burial/tophet, forum, and metallurgical zones), but also fulfill my own interests involving the site, whether it be surveying techniques, x-ray florescence, or zooarchaeological methods. Each day I had the pleasure of closely working with the directors and specialists on the project who taught me about their respective sub-disciplines and offered me great career advice in archaeology.

In addition to learning about all the procedures that go into conducting an excavation, the program allowed me to familiarize myself with Tunisian culture. My fellow students and I traveled to different places within Tunisia and Djerba, such La Marsa,Tataouine, and Houmt Souk. All of which involved exploring archaeological sites, their histories, and their place within the modern ethnography of Tunisia. It was always fun to engage in these activities that brought together everyone from the ethnography and archaeology teams.

This field school gives students a complete exsposure to the archaeological field experince. The day starts at five in morning with breakfast, we're on site by six thirty, second breakfast at nine thirty (an hour break), and home by two. Once home (a very nice apartment style hotel) students have two hours to eat lunch and rest before the evening activities which include washing pottery, processing pottery, lectures, pottery drawing, floatation and artifact processing. In additon to learning these core archeological skills students are also introduced and given the chance to explore enthoarchaeometry and survey techniques. There is a midterm and final, but these are not worries if you've been actively participating. Finally, the Zits Project brings everything together by contextualizing the site with modern Tunisia. We work and live alongside Tunisians as fellow students and directors. I learned a great deal from my roommate, who is now a Facebook friend.

One word of caution: Tunisia will probably be unlike any place you've ever been to! I experienced severe culture shock, but the IFR staff, my fellow students and the Tunisians I worked with helped me adjust.