Over the centuries civilizations have changed and with each change, there are new ideals, requirements, and wants. While exploring Rome, we have learned that in order to know what was in the past, we have to take away the time that has accumulated since. In archeology, that means digging through the current conditions to find the previous ones. In many instances there are several conditions piled upon one another causing archeologist to destroy what they have found to search for another.
So how far do we go? Our tour guides have posed this question: Do we keep searching and destroying just to find another layer to potentially destroy? We want to know what was there so we understand our history, but at what point do we stop digging and leave it be? And once we have uncovered artifacts, how do we keep them in the same condition that time has preserved it in?
These are just some of the things that I am learning while here in Rome. How much do we need to know? I don’t know what I think yet as to answers to these questions. I want to know what life was like as much as others do. But it breaks my heart to see a piece of someone’s life that has been preserved for so long be destroyed. Which makes me realize more and more how important it is document my world so that change can occur, but memory of what was is still available.
(Images in order: Circus Maximus, temple corner in Roman Forum, Roman Forum with Colosseum to the far right, interior of Colosseum)
Over the centuries civilizations have changed and with each change, there are new ideals, requirements, and wants. While exploring Rome, we have learned that in order to know what was in the past, we have to take away the time that has accumulated since. In archeology, that means digging through the current conditions to find the previous ones. In many instances there are several conditions piled upon one another causing archeologist to destroy what they have found to search for another.
So how far do we go? Our tour guides have posed this question: Do we keep searching and destroying just to find another layer to potentially destroy? We want to know what was there so we understand our history, but at what point do we stop digging and leave it be? And once we have uncovered artifacts, how do we keep them in the same condition that time has preserved it in?
These are just some of the things that I am learning while here in Rome. How much do we need to know? I don’t know what I think yet as to answers to these questions. I want to know what life was like as much as others do. But it breaks my heart to see a piece of someone’s life that has been preserved for so long be destroyed. Which makes me realize more and more how important it is document my world so that change can occur, but memory of what was is still available.
(Images in order: Circus Maximus, temple corner in Roman Forum, Roman Forum with Colosseum to the far right, interior of Colosseum)
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