News - Women in Professional UW-Archaeology

Chryssanthi on site

Aristea on her way to work

Author: Chryssanthi Papadopoulou

Working in Zea has been a challenging and fulfilling experience for all of us. This year’s excavation results have been very fruitful, since we were able to locate and excavate closed contexts, which have provided us with useful data regarding the dating and building phases of the shipsheds. We were required to excavate fast and effectively at the same time, since the importance of the information provided in the trench I was supervising (trench 2) inspired us to proceed further, but the time prevented us to do so, since it was limited, as it always is... It is a common archaeological dilemma, wanting to collect as much information as there is, yet being restricted by the limited time available and by our conscience, which tells us not to jeopardise the results with rushed choices. In our case our greed for archaeological results was controlled and manipulated in order to make us even more motivated and dedicated to a project we have all invested loads of time, energy and high hopes.

For women this project has been over the years – and unfortunately continues to be- particularly challenging. The equipment we use to avoid contamination by chemicals and waste in the water is far from women friendly. The vulcanised dry-suits are clearly designed for the longer arm and leg length of men, and this, along with the thermo under-suits, often makes us big floating balloons, which require an excessive amount of lead, in order not only to sink, but to be able to be operate with surgical accuracy in archaeological contexts full of organic material, that can be ruined by a simple touch (I weight 54 kilos and need 20 kilos of lead in order to sink, while I use 4.5 kilos when wearing a wetsuit!). And on top of this, we wish to prolong the dive as long as possible (sometimes for 4 hours), in order to be able to complete the pass we are excavating in a trench or locus, so that we can have the full image of an area and be able to describe it in the most effective way in the divelogs. The project has been as considerate as it could possibly be to these problems. The director has ensured for us dry-suits in the smallest size available. Also, a new smaller full-face mask is currently being developed, in order for any leakage to be avoided. Still, there is more work to be accomplished and more ambitious steps to be taken – and not necessarily from the project’s side...

This year the project offered me the position of the field director, which has been a demanding, but fulfilling task. I challenged my knowledge and skills, in order to be able to co-ordinate, supervise and advise my fellow team members on how we were required to proceed. I was extremely lucky to have to work with the best archaeological team I have so far worked with, both in terms of determination, and kindness and friendliness. I was supported by them in every decision I had to take and in every task that needed to be completed. Their hard work and experience, but most importantly their smiles have been making my days this last month!