Project Panormos: Fieldwalker Conduct Guide

Author: Toby C. Wilkinson License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Mobile phones

We encourage fieldwalkers to bring mobile phones with them into the field, since coverage is good in the study area, and they are useful in case of emergencies and to communicate with different parts of the team.

However, please note the following caveats DURING FIELDWORK:

• Please avoid personal calls during actual fieldwalking as it slows everyone down, makes communication along the line difficult and can be dangerous where hazards are not seen.

  • Personal calls can be made during breaks where necessary, but please keep them to a minimum and save up longer calls for time off back at base in the evenings.

• Please DO NOT use the internet or social media in the field. Save it for the evening.

Photographs and social media

• Do NOT post photographs from the field on Facebook, Twitter or other social media, especially if you have your GPS switched on (as the co-ordinates may be embedded in the images). Do NOT check-in with geo-aware social media (e.g. FourSquare) which can track your movement using the GPS module in your smartphone.

  • Besides taking attention away from work, this rule is important to avoid accidentally exposing ancient sites to increased potential looting from friends-of-friends-of-friends etc.
  • Additionally: Posting photos online is a form of PUBLICATION. Photographs of finds and sites made by fieldwalkers during the project are the property of the project (which is a joint enterprise of the Milet Museum and DAI, who have strict policies on inappropriate publication).
  • Of course you are free (and encouraged!) to document your work, the life of the team and contribute the images to the project archive (with your name attached to them forever) as long as you don’t use the photos made during work without checking first if it is OK with the team.
  • You are free to share online photos of yourself on the beach in Altinkum, with team members or when away from fieldwork, visiting publicly accessible sites etc…

• In a similar vein, please take care with what you write blogging and/or Facebook updates, in order not to distribute information which might be detrimental to the archaeological heritage or to the success of the project. Check with project leaders if it is appropriate or not. When in doubt, leave it out!

  • All team members will have a chance to comment and leave a mark through an (moderated) daily diary blog, which will be published online (and which will ultimately form part of the project archive and publication).

Dealing with members of the public / locals

The local public are very interested in the activities of archaeologists in the area. Unfortunately there is a tendency to assume that archaeology is all about the search for gold, and find it difficult to imagine why else archaeologists would go to so much effort. There is also a strong local tradition of ‘treasure-hunting’ (aka looting/illegal excavation) which has already resulted in considerable damage to sites in the region, some of it probably rather professional in nature.

• As with photographs and online postings, answer questions of method to the curious, but be terse with details of location and finds. Try to emphasise the real nature of archaeological enquiry: finding scraps of rubbish which might give us insights into how past peoples lived (and not just the rich ones with gold!). You can even mention how much knowledge has probably been lost because building development and illegal excavators.

• Be cautious of people who are overly interested in details.

Personal conduct / cultural sensitivity

Both for team-members coming abroad and for those coming from outside the region, please remember to use discretion and sensitivity on personal behaviour, personal safety and cultural matters.

Didim-Altinkum is a lively tourist destination for many British and Turkish families and party-goers. For the most part, it is a very safe place, but a normal level of caution is required. You are free to enjoy Altinkum’s beaches, shopping/easting facilities and evening fun during your time off, of course, but please do so modestly and avoid excessive drinking and long-nights before field days. Save it up for Saturday night!