Maggie Book
August 8, 2026

Of all the countries I have visited, Mongolia has earned a special place in my heart. From the city lights of Ulaanbaatar to the bright green steppe and beauty of the Darkhad Valley, Mongolia is quite something. During my month there I learned about different archaeological methods, the importance of cultural conservation, and how much I love boortsog—the delightful, usually homemade Mongolian version of a donut. 

I don’t study archaeology. But I returned from Mongolia with a better understanding of the teamwork that goes into an excavation like this one. NOMAD Science includes researchers from a range of disciplines, working together to form a cohesive research project. We also collaborate with the National Parks, and working alongside rangers was extremely meaningful. Despite the language barrier, we sang, danced, laughed, and created new friendships.

The journey was long and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the folks in Session II. After digging all day, we ate delicious meals, played cards, and just chatted for hours. Being out in an unfamiliar place can be scary sometimes, but we created a little family.