An Archaeologist on Holiday

Increasing age is no barrier to having fun or adventures, a fact well known by archaeologist Brenda Sewell and her husband Eric, who, in their 60s and 70s, hiked and bussed and joined tour groups away from the usual tourist destinations. Along their way they met people who invited them into their homes and brightened their lives, bringing awareness of the many facets of the cultures and demonstrating first hand how, apparently, some cultures changed dramatically whilst others appeared unchanged throughout the centuries. Extract from An Archaeologist on Holiday: As we were walking back to Little Petra we saw several small groups of goats and sheep wandering across the stubble, foraging for dropped grain, each herd guarded by a small boy. Beyond the wheat stubble were the Bedouin tents – long and narrow, made of black goats’ hair. I remarked that it looked as if things had not changed over thousands of years. ‘Look again,’ demanded Hassan out guide. ‘Look behind each tent.’’ There behind each tent was a Toyota pickup truck …