Michelle Peters, a Pennsylvania State University junior who wears her silver lipstick and nose rings everyday to the dig, gently brushed away dirt to uncover pottery shards and then carefully placed them in a bucket nearby to be read later that afternoon. Underwater, the treasures can be even more bountiful. The promise of finding ancient artifacts in good shape is greater underwater than on land, due to water's preserving qualities. Last season's team uncovered gold coins, whole plates and jugs, and wooden hair combs. But you can't take anything home with you.
Israeli law forbids the removal of finds from dig sites and has prosecuted offenders.
Back on land, Brad Chamberlain, a second-year digger, says volunteering helped set him on a career path. A native of Houston, Texas, he came to Caesarea the first time to see if archaeology was really what he wanted to do. I thought I wanted to be an archaeologist, but until last year I didn't know. But don't be fooled. Digging is hard work.