Transcript But, Why Can`t I Be An Anthropology Major?

But, Why Can’t I Be An
Anthropology Major?
Renee B. Walker, Ph.D.
What is Anthropology Anyway?
• Study of humans and anything related to
humans, including (but not limited to):
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Human cultures throughout the world.
Human biological variation.
Primate studies.
Past human cultures.
Why did I want to major in
Anthropology anyway?
Excavations at Monticello
My Passion for Archaeology
Or, Whoa Archaeology is cool!!
From Parker, 1906
Grotte XVI, France
• Habitation site in the Dordogne River
Valley.
– Cave above the Ceou River, near its
confluence with the Dordogne River. The
cave has a sequence that extends from about
65,000 to about 12,000 years ago, spanning
the time when Neanderthals flourished and
died off and when Cro-Magnon moved in.
• One month internship at site.
Graduate School-Yikes!
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville
– Archaeozoology: the study of animal bones
from archaeological sites.
– Archaeology course and courses in zoology,
such as malacology, ichthyology…a lot of
“ologies”!
– Also, research and teaching assistant.
A Summer in Greece:
The Kavousi Archaeological Project
• Kavousi Region on Crete.
• Sites includePachia
LateAmmos
Bronze Age and Early
Iron Age domestic villages.
Dust Cave
• Dissertation site in northwestern
Alabama.
• Cave with occupation that dates from
11,500 years ago to 5,000 years ago.
• Protected environment-so lots of animal
bone!
– Main goal: identify changes in subsistence
strategies through time.
Job?-Double Yikes!!
• Teaching or Research?
– Teaching at community colleges, four year
colleges and universities.
– Research at Museums, Universities and
Private Companies.
• Teaching!!!
Skidmore College
City of Merida, Yucatan Peninsula
• Great Liberal Arts school!
Uxmal, Yucatan Peninsula
• Archaeology at Saratoga National
Battlefield.
• Yucatan Peninsula trip.
Oneonta:
(And where is that exactly?)
• Great students & gotta love the
Anthropology Club.
• Research at Pine Lake and the Biological
Field Station.
• Two trips to Belize and Guatemala.
• Next trip to Mexico City and the Yucatan
(with future classes to Peru and Egypt).
Anthropology Club
• Brown Bag Lecture Series
• Trips to Howe’s Cavern, Iroquois Indian
Museum, New York City, Albany State
Museum, Oneida Indian Museum and
Casino.
Archaeological Research
at Pine Lake
• Fields schools every 2 years starting in
2003 (next one this summer!).
• Native American camp site occupied
between 8,000 and 1,000 years ago.
• Probably took advantage of fishing in
Charlotte Creek and the Lake, collecting
nuts and hunting.
Belize and Guatemala
• Travel with students to classic Maya sites
in Latin America.
• Terrific experience in archaeology, culture,
language and environment.
Future Plans
• Teaching-develop new travel and handson classes.
• Research– Archaeology of the upper Susquehanna
drainage.
– Prehistoric dog domestication
• Continue to enjoy students and
colleagues!
• I appreciate the support over the years
from my mentors, my colleagues and my
students.
• Also, I would not have achieved my goals
without the support of my family!
Thank You!!!