Few people have the opportunity to be the first to lay eyes on an object that has been buried in the earth for thousands of years. That is just one of the perks of the job for an archeologist — the focus of the next Sunday with a Scientist program at the University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History in Morrill Hall.
Visitors will be able to explore archeology during the event, "Unearthing a Roman Mosaic in Turkey," 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 10 at the museum.
Michael Hoff, Hixson-Lied Professor of Art History at UNL, will lead the presentation. Other presenters include art history graduate students Amanda Washburn and Jeri Dobos.
Hands-on activities will shed light on the fascinating and complex field of classical archaeology. The focus of the event will be Hoff's discovery and excavation of the largest Roman mosaic ever found in southern Turkey.
Since 2005, Hoff and his archeological team have been digging out the remains of the ancient city of Antiochia ad Cragum in southern Turkey. In 2012, they began the process of unearthing an intricate, 1,600-square-foot decorative work that was likely made in the third or fourth centuries. Only about 40 percent of it has been uncovered. Visitors will learn about the discovery, and how it will help researchers studying the region. They will also explore how cultural objects found at dig sites inform us about past civilizations.
Children will be able to look at Greek and Roman artifacts on display, such as pottery, glass and coins. There will also be a small box filled with sand in which children can search for objects and try to figure out what they tell us about the past.
The presenters will also provide demonstrations of archaeological techniques and images of their field work in the Mediterranean region.
For more information on Hoff's research, go to http://www.antiochia.unl.edu or http://go.unl.edu/ntv.
Sunday with a Scientist is a series of presentations that highlight the work of UNL researchers. The events are designed to be family friendly, with hands on activities. Presenters share scientific information in a fun, informal way through family-friendly activities and demonstrations. For more information, go to http://www.museum.unl.edu.