a) Top of 1.5m diameter Roman sewage pipe. (Still channelling water after 2000 years) b) Wall, Greek-(ca. 300 B.C.), topped by stones during the Roman era (ca. 100 A.D.) c) Hellenic (ca. 300 B.C.) tower base d) Byzantine graves (ca. 700 A.D.) e) Dirt pile from excavation f) Green pump tubing (the dig reached the water table) g) Archaeologists cataloging area h) Floors of Hellenic homes and later Roman shops i) Medieval well j) Foundation of modern adjacent apt. building.
For three weeks during the summer, I had the opportunity to work at this excavation in downtown Durres. On the very first day, I began learning how to excavate graves and disinter skeletons. It was also a great Albanian language experience, though I don’t know how often I’ll be using the words “trowel,” “amphora,” or “pelvis fragment” in my everyday speech...
