The opportunity to work in the Jewish Cemetery started out as an accessible field course for Undergraduate students in Anthropology at UVic. I have never had the opportunity to visit a cemetery in which my own family rests, and without that personal connection, my visits or strolls through cemeteries have been for other people or simply because many of the cemeteries here in victoria are quite beautiful. The first day we spent ‘in the field’ at the Jewish Cemetery for ANTH 395, I was ready with notebook in hand as if it was just another class or work day. I quickly realized that this was not going to be just another class.
Over the past few weeks I’ve learned a lot about mapping techniques and data recording processes. On the other hand, I’ve also learned a lot about Jewish culture and community, which has changed how I approach the fieldwork. For example, when we met with Rabbi Brechner at the Synagogue, we learned a lot about the congregation’s history. We learned that it is disrespectful to eat in the cemetery, and that the water fountain at the entrance is for washing your hands as you exit the cemetery. We learned that the flowers placed on the graves shows the influence of Victoria’s obsession with flowers on Jewish culture. The stories he told us provided us with a connection to more than just the data we were recording, but the community with which we are working. The balance between what we are doing and the environment in which we are doing it sometimes feels conflicted: stepping on the kerbing feels disrespectful, but at times it is necessary in order to record the inscriptions. This isn’t just a learning or work site, it is a site that holds a lot of meaning and history for a community, so respecting their traditions is really important.
The personal touches, such as the painted stones, benches, and wind chimes are also important: they remind us that, although it is easy to think of cemeteries as all about the past, they are very much connected to the present day. The opportunity to experience archaeological work in the field is really important for undergraduate students from an academic standpoint, but we are also fortunate in that we get to learn about the culture and heritage of our field site and work directly with the community.