Working through the pandemic

Daily excavations, surveys, sampling and archaeological experiments. The SapienCE team were right in the middle of their annual field expedition to South Africa, when the Covid-19 pandemic became a reality, forcing the world into lockdown.

Samantha Mienies is the Curator at the SapienCE/University of Witwatersrand laboratory in Cape Town. She curates the archaeological material found during excavations, helps visiting researchers, conducts permit applications for sampling and export of material, maintains research infrastructure and countless other tasks associated with running a research laboratory.

During the pandemic, she became the essential lifeline for SapienCE research activities in South Africa.

WORKING THROUGH LOCKDOWN

Faced with lockdown, work halted and we had a laboratory full of samples, including 130 kg of stalagmites. Samantha had her hands full. “As the realities of a prolonged pandemic and lockdown were dawning, I had to find new ways of organizing my work”

She moved the material to her home, and continued work despite the adverse conditions brought about by the lockdown. She facilitated the shipment of material from her home to Bergen and curated excavated material. Samantha ensured that researchers quickly received their samples from South Africa, shortening the delays experienced by a number of SapienCE projects.

ZOOMING THE SAMPLES

Samantha is still working from home after 10 months of lockdown. “I have decided to continue working from home, to minimize the risk of being infected. Zoom-meetings have become my new normal” she said. She tried new ways of facilitating research with Turid Hillestad Nel, a SapienCE postdoc specialising in rodents. They used Zoom meetings and live image sharing to sort through rodent remains in the excavation archive at Cape Town. This allowed Turid to select samples suitable for analysis, and carry out her planned research despite not being able to view the material in person.

AN ESSENTIAL ASSET

Christopher Henshilwood is extremely grateful to Samantha for the effort she has made during these trying times. “She has really gone beyond what could be expected during this situation. She has played an eminent role in ensuring that progress is made in SapienCE despite the lockdown. Samantha has been a great asset,” he says.

Samantha says she thrives on her work and really appreciates the variety of tasks. She is used to a hectic schedule and coordinating all the various activities at the laboratory. “There is never a dull moment working with the SapienCE team and I am very happy if my efforts have helped them to stay on track with their work.”

Samantha had her hands full with a laboratory full of samples that needed to be packed and sent to Bergen.