Elizabeth
DeVere

From the field

"

Like father, like daughter, I have arrived at the international terminal four hours before takeoff. Somehow, my father's anxious, militant, punctual traits are what calm me after the tense meeting with my professor this morning. Reviewing the fieldwork agenda included discussions comparing the itinerary of our partners abroad, flashing Émile's plans for us once I am on site. His compliments on my taste in music did not fall flat on me, for music is central to my lifelong fascination with archaeology. Understanding how sound has moved through individual senses since the first stones began chipping against one another to produce tools, elevating all of humanity, keeps me in tune with its magical prowess. Flashing back to our first video call, I heard the echoes of Depeche Mode calling out "It's No Good" while we discussed the chaos simmering outside the walls of his office building. Reflecting on the lyrics, I knew the song's title mirroring the present tensions would not benefit the dig's objective. My professor was sending me to unearth artifacts symbolizing ancient economic exchanges, not to become enmeshed in geopolitical tension or to be captured under the spell of a man.