Despite landmines, snakes and dodgy gin, Iraq is an archaeological paradise

Undergoing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons training in preparation for Iraq was nerve-wracking, but excavating here has been a revelation

Before the very first time I was going to excavate in Iraq, back in 2012, I have to admit I was a little apprehensive; I mean who wouldn't be? Thankfully the university running the project completely allayed my fears by sending me on a chemical, biological and nuclear weapons training-day, followed up with a course on unexploded ordnance and not stepping on landmines. After this I was so wholly put at ease that I thought about maybe staying at home instead.

I did come away with some useful information; I now know that landmines explode as soon as you step on them rather than going click and giving you a moment to look back at your friends like they do in the movies. If I'm exposed to mustard gas I should drink an alcohol solution and rinse myself in milk (or is it the other way round?). They gave me a chemical weapons testing kit for checking any suspicious substances I might find seeping out of munitions; I've only used it once and that was on a bottle of Iraqi-made Sir Henry's London Gin, which was suspiciously cheap but free from all common nerve agents.