- November 28, 2024
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When Roman archeologist Ilaria Harrach Basnett moved to Palm Coast, she suffered a large dose of culture shock, and she is still adjusting.
In Rome, everything is reachable by walking or public transportation; a car is not needed, Basnett said. The lifestyle was also different.
She moved to Palm Coast two years ago, after marrying Nathan Basnett, of Palm Coast, whom she met while he was on vacation in Rome.
Now, Starbucks is the closest thing Basnett can find to an art café or a writers café.
“To not have all these things — it’s very hard,” Basnett said. “That’s why I was happy I found the Art League. It was a little culture center that helped me get back into things I missed.”
Basnett is a city, field and underwater archaeologist — a career she has dreamed of since she was a little girl. She has worked on several excavations in Italy, including uncovering and restoring a 1,500-year-old underwater city.
In Rome, Basnett worked as a city archaeologist, being called on anytime there was a new building going up or underground digging. During her work there, she uncovered catacombs.
Basnett is now using her expertise in archaeology to teach a Lunch and Learn Armchair Artist series called “Walking in Ancient Footsteps,” at the Flagler County Art League.
She is giving an overview of culture, art and architecture of ancient civilizations from Egypt to Rome.
“I want people to know that heritage belongs to anyone,” Basnett said. “Whether it be in a museum in Paris, or ruins in Greece, everyone needs to step up to have heritage.”
But her series is not just for those already interested in archaeology. Basnett said her lessons can also tell people who want to vacation where they should go and what they should see.
“It is useful for people who want to know something about it before they go,” Basnett said. “What to expect — things you don’t find in books or the Internet, a little bit of knowledge you can’t find anywhere else, just that an archaeologist can tell you.”
The next two classes will be Monday, Jan. 31, and Monday, Feb. 7. The cost is $10 per session. For more information, visit www.flaglercountyartleague.com.
Contact Shanna Fortier at [email protected].
