Welcome the New Grad Research Team!
Each year we have a team of graduate researchers who help out with Campus Archaeology. I’d like to introduce you to Amy, Charlotte, Anneliese and Jennifer!
Amy: Amy is a fourth year student in the Department of Anthropology. Over the past several years, she has conducted archaeological field research in Illinois and Belize. Her dissertation focus is on the health of the prehistoric Maya of Belize, and she is particularly interested in differences between elites and commoners in the Classic and Late Classic periods. Amy uses bone and dental microstructure to interepret nutritional health and to, in part, infer status of individuals buried in caves and rockshelters. While involved with Campus Archaeology, Amy hopes to focus on public outreach in local schools helping teachers and students to appreciate the rich archaeological record of Michigan. This year, her project will involve creating archaeological lectures and lesson plans for a variety of age groups in area schools.
Charlotte: Growing up in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (Alaska), Charlotte Marie Cable knew by the age of 5 that she was headed for a career in archaeology. Her adventures currently find her as a PhD student at MSU specializing in landscape archaeology, monuments, and international development. She is Assistant Project Director for the American Expedition at Bat in the Sultanate of Oman and Field Director of excavations at Matariya, a monument at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bat. Including her survey and excavation research in Oman Charlotte Marie has worked in the Middle East for over a decade, with short stints working in the American Southwest and Midwest, and in the Andes. She is excited to be back in Michigan working with MSU’S Campus Archaeology Program! Find her on Twitter at AdventuresNArch.
Anneliese: Anneliese is a first year graduate student in the Department of Anthropology. She has participated in archaeological field research in Arizona at Homol’ovi State Park and geological field research in South Pass, Wyoming. Currently, her future research interests include skeletal and mortuary analysis of individuals in the Basin of Mexico. She is particularly interested in using skeletal analysis to examine a possible relationship between migration paths, trade routes, and the age and gender of individuals migrating. While working with Campus Archaeology, Anneliese will be working on mapping historical archaeological sites on campus using GIS Software, and incorporating these maps with previous excavations in order to produce a template to predict the likelihood of the presence of artifacts around campus.
Jennifer: Jennifer is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Anthropology. She is primarily interested in the bioarchaeology of Late Prehistoric Midwestern peoples ? specifically in issues of gender, health, and social complexity in the Lower Illinois Valley during the Late Woodland-Mississippian transition. Jennifer has worked extensively on the excavation of the Morton Village site, a late prehistoric village in the central Illinois River Valley near Lewistown, Illinois. Her work for Campus Archaeology will focus on the concept of sustainability from a historical perspective. Specifically, she will explore university archives and records to determine how university policies regarding food and energy have reflected evolving concepts of sustainability over time.
Throughout this year they will be updating you on projects they are working on and their involvement in the Campus Archaeology program. They are all fantastic researchers, and we are looking forward to see what they produce!