Victoria Pobok

ABOUT THE RESEARCHER:

1.     Who are you doing research with this summer and what kind of research project are you doing?

This summer, I am working with one of my favorite people, Dr. Clifford Robinson, to study the relationships between Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Mayan medicine and ritual. To study this, I travelled to Belize to participate in an archaeological dig to learn about the Maya, as well as about the study and practices of archaeology. I will also be studying the plants, environments, and rituals of each ancient society and determining what commonalities, if any, exist between the two. This information can then be used to either support or refute some theories of biological anthropology, which hypothesize that particular elements of culture are biologically programmed within humans. 

 2.     What do you find fascinating in the research you’re doing?

The most fascinating part of my research has by far been handling and identifying ancient artifacts that we gather within the field. There is nothing more rewarding than carefully digging the jungle soil, sifting through it, and then discovering a shard of Pre-Classic Mayan pottery or stone tool within it. In some of the artifacts we unearth, you can still see the lingering fingerprints of the piece’s original maker, who lived over a thousand years before. This is the magic that happens when the sciences and humanities connect: you can physically feel the touch of the ancient past. 

 3.     What skills are you learning through the USURF experience?

As part of my work, I have had the opportunity to learn a host of amazing new skills! I have mastered archaeological digging techniques, and have learned how to also perform seismic ground testing and ground penetrating radar. I can also use a total mapping station to create a map of newly discovered structures, or draw an accurate  one from the tape-and-compass mapping technique I was also instructed in. Finally, I can also play a competitive game of the Mesoamerican ballgame, which I learned from a local Belizean team!

 4.     What are the challenges you’re encountering in your research?

The hardest part of my research thus far has been, well, survival! Living in the Belizean rainforest is dangerous for even experienced locals, and everything, even plants and insects, could harm or kill you. The jungle boasts toucans, parrots, orchids, and several pretty things, but it also hides scorpions, tarantulas, and dengue-ridden mosquitoes. Luckily, I managed to leave the jungle (after a month of research there) with only a minor splinter from a native escoba tree. Overall, living in the jungle is fun, but also quite the test!

5.     How is your USURF experience impacting the way you view your field?

My USURF experience has impacted the way I see my field in quite a literal way. When I first arrived at my research site in Belize, I was stunned at how easily my longtime mentor, Dr. Stan Walling, could identify Mayan structures that had been completely interred by 1200 years of undisturbed vegetation. In time and with practice, however, I learned to be able to see the jungle in a completely different light: what may seem like a simple hill or lone rock might actually be a hidden ancient ballcourt or monument!

 6.     Tell us something interesting about yourself.

One of my favorite moments in working on this project has been one of the discoveries I made while visiting a different archaeological site for the day in Belize. Upon simply scanning the ground of the site, I found a large portion of an Ancient Mayan water jug! It was beautifully incised, meaning that it had been worked while wet to appear with decorative surface carvings. A rare piece, it was a great memory to mark the culmination of all the work I had put in throughout the month-long dig.