By Lizzie Boyle, C’19

This summer I was awarded the opportunity to participate in the prestigious US-UK Fulbright Commission Summer Institute at the University of Bristol. This fully-funded academic program runs for four weeks and is focused on the triangular slave trade and Bristol’s Atlantic heritage. As a rising junior double majoring in history and secondary education social studies, I could not have asked for a better opportunity. I am incredibly grateful to the Mount Fellows Society, as well as to Dr. Gianoutsos and Dr. Murry, for the support and encouragement I received throughout the entire application process.

The past week has been both culturally and academically enriching in ways that I had previously never imagined. When I first arrived in Bristol, I was able to explore the city both on my own and through guided tours. Through this exploration, I was able to better understand the rich and rather eclectic history that surrounded the city.

Later in the week, I delved deeper into the history of Bristol and the surrounding area by participating in an archaeological dig at Berkley Castle. Working alongside students from the Fulbright Summer Institute and from the University of Bristol, I was able to participate in a more hands-on approach to learning for three days.

Rather than researching and reading, I was physically attempting to uncover history, with a mattock and shovel. It may seem obvious but this approach was unlike anything I had ever experienced in the classroom. Though it was hard work, it was fascinating to see pieces of various artifacts emerge amongst the rubble.

As each layer of soil was removed, we were able to go further back into history and uncover various stories of past civilizations. Though these stories may have been different in respect to time they all were consistently found in the same location. In this way, the weaving of different people and times helps depict the continuity of history. Each discovery only serves to better understand these stories from the past.

In one our first lectures, our professor spoke about how history is not merely the telling of stories but rather an investigation of the past. In this way, discovery is just as important to historians as it is for archaeologists. In this respect, the last few days have been focused on archival research through the Bristol Record Office and through the Special Collections Library houses at the University of Bristol’s Library of Arts and Sciences. Previously, I never thought I would have the chance to partake in a funded historical research and cultural immersion program while still an undergraduate. Though not even halfway throughout the program, I am already grateful for the memories and experiences I have gained in this short time span.

“Views and opinions expressed are the author's own, and do not represent an official U.S. Department of State website or blog, and do not represent the Fulbright Program, host university or U.S. Department of State."