Come meet some of our amazing students, who support the Lechaion Harbor and Settlement Land Project! Here, we feature interviews with students who have worked on the project, especially our team of students returned in the 2024 season as Assistant Trench Supervisors.
Raylinn Vasquez
Raylinn is history major, with a minor in anthropology, at the California State University, Long Beach, who will graduate in 2024. She was a field school student on the dig in 2023, and she returned to the project in 2024 as an Assistant Trench Supervisor.
1. What attracted you to archaeology?
Becoming an archaeologist has been a lifelong dream of mine! Through my college courses I discovered that although I love history, my passion lies in archaeology. Being a part of the archaeological process as it begins to reconstruct the past, and helps understand past practices/civilizations is what draws me to further pursue archaeology. Unearthing the past is a great privilege to be a part of!
2. What was your most memorable experience in the field last season?
Although the season is filled with memorable moments, my favorite would have to be finding special finds. Contributing to the overall development of the chronological building process in history is thrilling! Finding diagnostic pieces is always a memorable experience.
3. What was your favorite thing to do in your off-time during the field season?
One of my favorite off-sight activities is enjoying beach days with friends and having delicious traditional Greek food! A relaxing swim with a fresh Greek salad and Saganaki is my go-to!
4. What is something that new field school students should know about fieldwork/the project/archaeology generally?
Some advice for future participants, archaeology is a strenuous field. Work days are long, and being a good team player is important. Everyone plays a crucial role on the field, from carrying heavy buckets, washing pottery, or digging in the sun for multiple hours, it all contributes equally to the project. It can be overwhelming at first but know that you are not alone, everyone is going through the process with you! On and off the field we are each other’s biggest cheerleaders, being at LHSLP has helped me build great connections, and has been one of the greatest experiences ever!
Anna Trimble
Assistant Trench Supervisor in 2024.
Anna was an Anthropology and Classics double-major at the University of Pittsburgh (2024). She was a student participant during the 2023 season and will return in 2024 as an Assistant Trench Supervisor.
1. What attracted you to archaeology?
I am drawn to the thrill of uncovering and trying to reconstruct the narratives of the ancient past. I am fascinated by the opportunity to explore cultures through tangible artifacts and uncover the mysteries of human history.
2. What was your most memorable experience in the field last season?
My most memorable experience was watching the talented specialists present their work at the end of last season. It is truly an astounding feeling to see the conservation of artifacts that you took part in excavating.
3. What was your favorite thing to do in your off-time during the field season?
During the time I was off-site last season, I loved spending time with my friends whether that was at the beach, relaxing in the compound courtyard or just getting dinner and gelato in the plateia.
4. What is something that new field school students should know about fieldwork/the project/archaeology generally?
New field school students should be aware that while the fieldwork and archaeology, in general, can be physically demanding, the rewards far outweigh any hardships endured. The connects you forge with the staff, trench supervisors and fellow students are like no other, and being able to transfer what you learn in school into actual practice is an amazing experience.
5. What are you most looking forward to in the 2024 season?
I am most looking forward to seeing my friends and supervisors from last year, and getting to know all of the newcomers! And of course–I super siked to jump back into the trenches and get my hands dirty, as well as see what my new role as an assistant trench supervisors has in store for me.
Meghan Hannum
Meghan was a Classics major and an Ancient Greek minor at the University of Pittsburgh (2024). In the Fall of 2024, she will begin a MA in Classics at Florida State University. She was a student participant during the 2023 season and will return in 2024 as an Assistant Trench Supervisor.
1. What attracted you to archaeology?
I have always been drawn to history and felt that studying archaeology would be a way to deepen that connection. Being able to hold artifacts from thousands of years ago is a feeling that makes you feel connected to humanity in an indescribable way. It’s a very special feeling to be able to participate in uncovering the past.
2. What was your most memorable experience in the field last season?
While this isn’t one specific memory, I would say that getting to see the sunrise over the water every day was amazing. The beautiful pink, orange, and blue sky every morning was the perfect motivation to start a day of excavating. Being bitten by multiple ants in the same day was also pretty memorable (though not super pleasant…).
3. What was your favorite thing to do in your off-time during the field season?
Pretty much any time I wasn’t in the field (or asleep in bed), I was at the beach with my friends. One of the very best things about this excavation in particular is how close we are to the Gulf of Corinth. If you’re not sure where to find me on any given day, a good place to look would be in a lounge chair at Kalamia beach with friends, reading a book, and sipping a Mythos.
4. What is something that new field school students should know about fieldwork/the project/archaeology generally?
I would say that new field school students should be aware of the nature of the work that they will be doing in the field. It’s not easy to carry heavy buckets of dirt, spend long hours in the sun, and wake up at 4:30 in the morning–but it’s totally worth it. My experience in the field has been by far one of the most rewarding experiences of my life to-date. The things I’ve learned about both archaeology and myself as well as the connections I’ve made make all of the hard work worth it. But just make sure you stay hydrated!!
Lechaion Harbor and Settlement Land Project 