In this blog we hear from Hazel, who has recently completed the first ever MAAST course here at MOLA. Hazel shares her experience of the course and the journey her research into the America Square site has taken her on.
I’m a 43 year old woman with a poster of Indiana Jones in my bedroom.
I’ve loved archaeology and museums for as long as I can remember. A few years ago I started an MA in Classical Archaeology after deciding I would only do things I was passionate about, not just things that I was good at. A series of personal issues meant I had to drop out after the first year. It broke my heart, but needs must.
Still, my passion and interest never faded, and I began volunteering at museums, getting as much hands-on experience and training as I could. I couldn’t afford to develop a career in museums academically, so volunteering was an alternative path.
After seeing the advert for MOLA's MAAST course on my social media, a few friends who knew of my love of archaeology also posted the link to me with “Saw this and thought of you! Apply for it!” comments. When I got an email saying I’d been accepted I whooped loudly. I was in! I got in! I’ve got a chance to learn about artefacts and process them! I get my hands on finds from an actual dig! It was something I always wanted to do and now I had the opportunity!
