Senior Cynthia-Rose Seeds performs archaeological fieldwork at Corinth’s ancient port of Lechaion in Greece. She was one of several UMW students who got firsthand experience in excavation on that project this summer.
With trowel and brush in hand, University of Mary Washington senior Cynthia-Rose Seeds carefully cleared soil from a cremation urn she’d just uncovered at Corinth’s ancient port of Lechaion in Greece. It was one of many discoveries during a summer of fieldwork that gave the classical archaeology major firsthand experience in excavation.
Seeds was one of several UMW students who joined the Lechaion Harbor and Settlement Land Project this summer, where archaeologists are investigating Roman-period workshops, tavernas and basilicas. Working directly alongside professionals and faculty, the students helped with excavation, hauling and sifting soil, cleaning and sorting pottery fragments, and documenting discoveries through field notes and photographs.
In addition to unearthing the urn, the summer excavation provided many unforgettable discoveries for Seeds. Her most notable findings included Byzantine glass, coins, a basin-shaped carving and a “squatter’s wall,” an altar-like platform of baked tiles tucked into a corner of the dig site.
“Going out and excavating myself was so different from studying in the classroom,” Seeds said. “When I was doing it, that’s when I truly grasped and appreciated it, beyond just a mental understanding. It solidified my desire to get a master’s degree and go into archaeology as a career.” Read more.