As a classical archaeology major, hands-on experience is crucial for me. Unfortunately, working with artifacts is generally difficult in a classroom setting, and finding opportunities to interact with them is similarly challenging. Working with Professor Lynn of Dartmouth’s Classics department has afforded me the unique chance to do just this. I have worked with an authentic Latin antiphonary, studying it and analyzing it as professionals would. My professor has also helped me use the fantastic technology Dartmouth has at its disposal to catalogue the antiphonary and make study of it more accessible. This project has familiarized me with such techniques as well as with the proper handling of such artifacts. Moreover, it has been endlessly fulfilling to work on the antiphonary, as I feel I am truly contributing to further study by cataloguing the antiphonary and making it more accessible for scholarly analysis.
My Professor has been incredibly helpful; she offered this research opportunity in class, and I simply asked her if I could help. She has acted as a sort of mentor, both within the research project and beyond. In addition, receiving funding for the project was simple, as Dartmouth Undergraduate Advising & Research generously funded it and paid me for my work. Overall, the whole experience has been fantastic. I am considering an academic career in classics, and this research has afforded me an unparalleled glimpse into the reality of research work, which I very much enjoy. I am thus very thankful for this opportunity that Dartmouth has kindly provided me.