This Lecture will be held on Tuesday 9th October 2012 at 11.00a.m. at The Queen's Hall, Narberth .

“Rescuing Zuegma from the Floodwaters”

Whilst the water rose 2 feet a day behind the Berecik Dam in Turkey, archaeologists raced to uncover wall paintings and mosaics finer than those found in Pompeii.

Louise Schofield was digging in Albania when the call came for her to go to Eastern Turkey where the Roman city of Zeugma was rapidly disappearing under the water because of a dam being built on the Euphrates.  Zeugma was founded in 300BC, sacked in 300AD and shortly afterwards buried by a landslide and lay undisturbed until the dam project commenced.  With many amusing anecdotes, Louise Schofield explained how she had not only to race against the water which was rising by two feet a day but also had to win the support and confidence of the dam project manager, the pistachio farmer, the sponsors and other interested groups.   All this in addition to organising the work of the international teams of archaeologists, who ‘hated each other’, and had very different styles of work.  Clearly, being an expert in archaeology was not the only skill  needed as she raced to reveal as much of the city as possible before it was inundated.

The lecturer’s enthusiasm and knowledge bubbled over as she showed slides of the magnificent mosaics which Zeugma produced.  They are breathtaking in their workmanship and brilliance.  In the whole of the Roman Empire, they are second only to a collection in Tunisia in their quality and extent.  Louise Schofield’s battles against the waters submerging the city and successful juggling of the conflicting interests at the site were well worth while.  

 

Lecturer: Louise Schofield BA Hons Dip Class Arch

Previously Curator of Greek Bronze Age and Geometric Antiquities in the British Museum (13 years.) Now works on International archaeological projects