“Because archaeology is a social science, it borrows information from hard sciences like geology and chemistry. Archaeology includes basic scientific processes and principles of sorting and identifying objects, using modern technology, and putting it all together with historical knowledge.” Olivia T. ’22.
Olivia was an intern at Chrysalis Archaeology during the summer of 2019. Olivia challenged herself by taking this Archaeology internship and found her calling. She spent the summer working with artifacts that were excavated from various places in the New York area - Hart Island, a mass graveyard dating back to the 1800s (today a jail), Washington Square Park (a park in Greenwich Village), and Myrtle Avenue, a subway in Queens.
For Olivia, this Archaeology internship was more than just science (which is not one of her favorite subjects). “I’ve always thought that the whole process of excavation is a bit like a scavenger hunt. Piece together bits of clues, find information, and discover your prize. Archaeology is a historical mystery.”
After excavation, Olivia helped research, study, photograph, and catalog artifacts or items unearthed. She learned that some artifacts might be donated, kept, or culled. She also learned how to process and sort archaeological materials and identify and clean artifacts. Olivia discovered that different objects belong to certain time periods, learned about the various soil types, and investigated how multiple people once possessed different artifacts. Olivia also learned to use everyday tools such as shovels, trowels, paintbrushes, toothbrushes, and dental picks during her time as a summer intern archaeologist.
According to Olivia, “Artifacts can inform us of several things such as what period the artifact is from, what technology was available at that time, what sort of person might have possessed the artifact, and the artifact's origins.”
Another great part of the internship for Olivia was being part of a team and working in an office with some amazing co-workers who made her feel welcomed and comfortable. The experience taught her that hard work (and doing what you enjoy) brings coworkers together to do great things, both at work and outside of work. Olivia enjoyed her internship so much that she presented her findings and experience to Saint Saviour faculty and students on Tuesday, Sept 24.
