Miranda King’s time as a Classics master’s student may have focused on digging into the past, but her experiences at Brock will shape her future for years to come.

King will cross the stage during Brock’s 117th Convocation ceremonies next week.

Classics master’s graduand Miranda King gained practical, hands-on experience in artifact cataloguing and safe-keeping during her study travel experience in Pompeii, Italy, offered by Brock’s Faculty of Humanities.

Her research as a graduate student in the Department of Classics and Archaeology involved analyzing and contextualizing architectural material found during archaeological investigations on the island of Pantelleria.

The hands-on archaeological dig off the coast of Sicily — particularly the independent lab work she conducted in the field researching and cataloguing artifacts — was an experience she will never forget.

Working alongside the Brock team led by Associate Professor Carrie Murray, King researched architectural materials like mosaic tiles, plaster, columns and roofing materials used by ancient Punics and Romans.

“Much of what we found were abandoned objects left on the site; discarded materials filling a hole. But to us, the finds offered a window into the ancient world,” she said.

King helped in the on-site lab by identifying and documenting artifacts as well as taking measurements and photographs of items. She was also responsible for maintaining the digital cataloguing system.

“We turned Miranda’s interest in artifact cataloguing into an experiential Major Research Project, the core assignment of the Master of Arts program. This allowed her to hone her skills for a career in archaeology and also serve a practical function for the Pantelleria Project,” Murray said.

King said the experience allowed her to flourish and empowered to try things out on her own.

“At Brock, faculty are so keen to have students involved at a variety of levels,” she said.

Classics master’s graduand Miranda King broadened her horizons while at Brock, embarking on experiential education abroad in Italy. Her study travels led to her to Tunis, Tunisia.

Studying abroad also opened King’s perspective as she gained confidence travelling to Rome and Naples. She visited iconic historical sites like Pompeii and then Carthage, an ancient city in current-day Tunisia.

King was thankful for a close-knit department that felt supportive and collaborative.

“I even picked up the bass clarinet again while at Brock to perform in the University Wind Ensemble, it was a wonderful experience and gave me a creative outlet on top of my studies,” she said. “I am leaving Brock with valued friendships thanks to a strong cohort bond.”

King will continue her lab-based archaeological research exploring houses and cultural interaction in ancient civilizations while pursuing a PhD at University of Alberta.

Her goal is to teach at the post-secondary level. King is motivated to share her passion with students and provide mentorship just like she experienced at Brock.

“I am grateful for the experiential education I received at Brock and aim to inspire the next generation of students interested in pursuing the field of classics and archaeology.”