Archaeology Field Work
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A Typical
Day at Bugul’deika |
Mornings at the site begin with the clanging of the zavtrak (breakfast)
bell at 7:00 am. Breakfast usually consists of a bowl of steaming kasha
and a mug of hot chai. Immediately following breakfast, the group
makes its way to the site to begin work. Here students engage in a variety
of activities, including digging, drawing, photography, and topographic
survey.
On certain days, small groups may also explore the area around the site to identify resources, landmarks, and other important parts of the surrounding landscape. |
Work continues until around 2:00 p.m., when a lunch of soup such as borscht
and freshly caught fish is served. Following lunch, students are generally
given free time. In the past, this time has often been used for such things
as washing laundry in the lake, reading, catching up on excavation notes,
playing cards, socializing, or just plain sleeping. Depending on how hot
it is (the temperature at Lake Baikal is usually in the mid-twenties to
low-thirties – Celsius, of course), work begins again at around 3:00
or 4:00 and continues until 7:00. After a short period of relaxation to
clean up, a dinner of rice, pasta, soup, salad and fish is served. |
After dinner, if a lecture or labwork is not scheduled, it is time to socialize
some more. Many nights are spent around the fire, playing games and exchanging
stories and songs. |
This is also
the time when some students test the local Russian vodka. |
 Everyday,
one or two students are assigned to assist in the kitchen, where they help
our cooks cut vegetables, wash dishes, cook food, etc.
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Throughout the day, students are also expected to help out by chopping firewood and fetching water from the lake. |
 While
there are no regularly scheduled days off at the site, on certain days work
stops in order to go on local trips such as hikes. |
 Work
also stops to celebrate holidays such as Russia Day, Canada Day, and Archaeology
Day.
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