Al Zubarah Archeological Site, Qatar-Digging It
I Am Indiana Jones—and So Can You
Choose a field of work that you love, and you may never work a day in your life—because that field is probably not hiring. Do it anyway. At least as a tourist.
The Road Is Optional. The Story Is Not.
“99% of all Land Rovers are still on the road. The other 1% have reached their destination.”
Doha Field Notes
The Middle East has a way of making the ordinary look cinematic. A vehicle becomes an expedition. A field becomes a dig site. A tourist becomes, briefly and completely, Indiana Jones.
Field notes from Doha
Doha desert expedition
Adventure begins off the paved road
House of Theseus and Tomb of the Kings
Archaeological fieldwork in Cyprus
Digging into the ancient world
A Year Earlier: Digging It in Cyprus
At the World Heritage Site—the House of Theseus and the Tomb of the Kings—I joined an archaeological dig, because that is what one does when visiting Ancient Greece and Cyprus.
This gives “in the trenches” a whole new meaning as I get in touch with my inner Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones.
In the Trenches
The ancient world does not remain ancient when you are standing inside the evidence.
Adventure Leaves a Record
Doha supplied the desert frame. Cyprus supplied the archaeology. Together they confirmed the operating principle: sometimes the life you imagined as a child is still available in fragments—provided you are willing to get off the paved road and into the trench.
Become the Character You Were Waiting For
Adventure is not a job title. It is a mode of attention. You do not need to be hired as an archaeologist, explorer, or action hero to enter the field. You need curiosity, permission, and the willingness to look slightly ridiculous while doing something unforgettable.