Jobs with Pottery Sherds Are the Best

It was a day when I was feeling especially thankful for my job. I don't believe I have ever had a job that I actually looked forward to as much as I do this one. There is always something to look forward to in any job, when you look for it, but I have got to have one of the best jobs there is. Every job can be as stressful as you make it, and I see that more clearly than ever when I find myself stressing out about my pretty-chill library job.

Well this day, I was drawing simple hieroglyphics on pottery sherds. It is for the kids to dig up on the first day of "Can You Dig It?" I think they look half-way decent.

Within the next couple of days the Fourth Expedition to Lachish will commence. Many of my Israeli and other friends will be there, and there is a part of my heart that aches for Israel. A total of seven weeks of my life, yet it has impacted me significantly. I learned so much on those two trips and they will forever be some of my favorite memories. I can't help but think how wonderful that God should place me here to do my own small, very different, expedition lasting just a bit longer than the Lachish expedition will.

Writing the hieroglyphics brought to memory one of the latest memories made there. My Coach, square supervisor, had been my Coach each year. When working with someone day in and day out, getting dirty and sweaty, there is a bond that is easily formed. We had the most united square that first year and were greatly attached to our "Coach Ilan." We formed a unique friendship my first trip as my square mates and I looked up to him and worked hard alongside him. That first year, he was called away in the reserves during the Gaza bombings. He came to say goodbye to us and we each felt the weight of his being called away. You can imagine my joy at being reunited to work underneath him the next year and to learn from him again. He is like a great bear. He has a very thick Israeli accent and the first year all he could manage to say to three girls each day was "level it." Every archaeologist's goal. As he became more comfortable, he told us stories. Stories about his wife, serving in the army, or other square supervisors. Since all we ever uncovered was dirt and boulders, it was always a joke among us that we would find the inscription with Rehoboam's name written on it.

Well, on the last day of my last year, along with the aid of my other Israeli friends (also square supervisors and studying archaeologists), I created a fake inscription. I wrote in sharpee marker because the crayon one I did looked too authentic at first glance. The level we were digging in would not have had ancient Hebrew, so I wrote out in ancient Hebrew - "To Coach Ilan, love your angels." I had taken, with permission, a scrap piece of pottery. Oftentimes inscriptions were written on scrap pieces of pottery. That last day, when he wasn't looking, I put the piece of pottery inscription side down. That was the first mistake. Anytime a piece of pottery is lying flat it could indicate a floor level. Which was exactly what we were hoping for. About the same time he discovered mine, he had just uncovered another broad piece lying flat on the ground. Two is better than one. The case and hope for a floor grew stronger. The Director (Yosi Garfinkel) came over and discussed this possibility and nodded and the indications. My face grew hot and I felt sick inside. Should they see that, they could think that it was real, then a forgery and what kind of trouble would I get in? They are now believing it to be a floor level and I have unintentionally deceived them! One of the most important things an archaeologist is to do is keep everything in situ, which is a fancy way of saying "in place." It is important so that proper documentation- photographing, graphing, and diagnosis can be taken. However, since I knew I had placed it there, I kept nudging it out of place with my shoe, hoping that he would give up with my clumsiness (which I am usually very careful) and turn it over, see the joke and laugh, with perhaps a tear in his eye at my thoughtfulness. But it was not to be. He continued to carefully put it back in its place. So distracted was I by my situation that I also accidentally kept knocking the other pottery sherd.

Finally I went to my friend Shifra and told her my dilemma. She came over to Ilan and looked at it with him and finally said, "Well pick it up already." Surprisingly, he did, but his reaction was the worst I could have expected. Seeing the writing, he was too excited to take into account the ancient Hebrew, and that it was sharpee marker. "Erin!" He exclaimed, "You will not believe this! Go get Yosi! Go get Igor!" I hesitated and looked at Shifra. Did he know it was a fake? She said, "No Ilan, read it." Then he realized. But rather than it being a sentimental gift as I meant it to be - he thought it was a joke, a mean one. Of course he laughed at it because he is too good-humored to get mad, but I felt horrible as I tried to explain that it was a gift. It took a while, but then we laughed about it together. Me at my unfortunate mistake, and him at his excitement.

Don't Look TOO Closely

I Couldn't Read that to you, I just copied it, so don't be impressed. But it does look pretty sweet right?

Hence the selfie - I wanted to document that I actually wrote it. 

Coach Ilan! He hates morning! "Aerin, there is noo gud morning."

Here he is being silly with another square supervisor Tal. They are hilarious together!

Well I just transported myself to another land and a previous chapter of my life. I am here in Montana now, making memories and new inscriptions.