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):– 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

From Parker, 1906

Or, Whoa Archaeology is cool!!

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 include Late Bronze Age

and Early Iron Age domestic villages.

Pachia Ammos

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

• Great Liberal Arts school!• Archaeology at Saratoga

National Battlefield.• Yucatan Peninsula trip.

Uxmal, Yucatan Peninsula

City of Merida, Yucatan Peninsula

Oneonta:

• 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).

(And where is that exactly?)

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 hands-on 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!!!