Embedded Files
CRAWL began when colleagues, Amanda Paskey and Anastasia Panagakos, stumbled across a 2011 newspaper article discussing the revival of the Underground Tour in Old Sacramento, only to learn that part of the tour visits an archaeological site excavated by CRC professor, David Abrams, in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Intrigued and excited by the possibilities of accessing the collection, Amanda and Anastasia contacted State Parks and negotiated a contract to allow students to work on the collection at CRC, in essence, bringing the collection home.
Since the first semester in 2012 the lab has trained over three dozen students and welcomed visitors and collaborators alike.
Amanda Paskey, Principal Investigator
My academic and anthropological training is in archaeology. Most of my archaeological work, however, has been in the realm of prehistoric archaeology, focused around California and Nevada's early inhabitants. I'm used to looking at chipped stone artifacts, charcoal, shell and fish remains and in some rare instances, twined figurines. My passion, though, has always been teaching. So, it was an amazing set of circumstances that has given me the ability to teach students in the actual methods of archaeology. It has been so gratifying to see our students do some amazing work in the CRAWL lab, present their finds at professional conferences, and then use those skills in their next educational challenge, or even in their careers.
When I'm not in CRAWL, you'll find me teaching Physical Anthropology (lecture and lab), Cultural Anthropology or Archaeology courses at CRC. I'm also involved with helping faculty at CRC be more effective teachers, by incorporating new and innovating teaching methods.
Anastasia Panagakos, Principal Investigator
Although I am trained as a cultural anthropologist I couldn't resist the opportunity to work on an archaeological collection, particularly one that figures into our CRC history. My two favorite things about lab are working with the students and watching them discover the wonder (and sometimes sheer tediousness) of archaeological lab work and collaborating with our friends and colleagues at CRC and beyond. I'm proud to see our students transfer to four-year universities and know that their lab experience in CRAWL helped them decide whether archaeology was right for them.
When I'm not assisting in lab, I can be found teaching classes such as Intro to Cultural Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, Globalization, and the Anthropology of Religion. Although I love teaching a variety of subjects, folktales are one of my favorites (Krampus anyone?)
Laura Roccucci, Lab Manager
I began working in CRAWL as a student in January 2014. In August 2017 I was appointed as the lab manager. I love sharing the project history and knowledge with students.
At the beginning I learned about lab practices, artifact classes, and cataloging. The co-PI’s inspired me to develop questions about artifacts and the site residents. This has led to exciting discoveries each semester. I know… how exciting can lab work be? I’ve found the rewards outside the lab--- Collaborating with other CRC departments, organizations, and universities. Identifying an artifact after months of dead-ends. Discovering the final whereabouts and will of a site resident, which had been a mystery for decades.
When I’m not helping in the lab or working on something for CRAWL, I’m a teaching assistant for several anthropology classes. I do enjoy getting outside and often volunteer during the summer for short fieldwork projects. Last, but not least, I’m also quite busy raising three teenagers.
Many thanks to those who have contributed their expertise, time, skills, and funds to the lab. Without their assistance we would not be able to provide our students a wide variety of opportunities in archaeology or successfully process the collection.
Adrian Praetzellis discusses pottery with lab students, he worked with ceramics on the original excavation.
Photography professor Kathryn Mayo teaches students about historic photography using a vintage camera.
Chris Darwent and Jason Miczaniec assist in identifying faunal remains at UC Davis.
Contributing Colleagues
Ceecee Cesario
AnnMarie Beasley Cisneros
Kathleen Brandl
Trine Johansen
Samuel Williams
Emmy Carleton
Jess Whalen
Adrian Whitaker
Granting Organizations
Society for California Archaeology
Collaborators
Cosumnes River College: Hiram Jackson, Fred Deneke, Kathryn Mayo, Cheryl Buch
UC Davis: Chris Darwent, John Darwent, Jelmer Eerkens, Jason Miszaniec
Sonoma State U: Adrian Praetzellis
California State Parks
Pete Hanchett
Rick Fitzgerald
CRC Campus Support
Ginny McReynolds
Tonya Williams
Ed Bush
Original CRC Excavation Crew
David Abrams
Diane Abrams
Eloise Barter
Mary Carroll
Carlys Gilbert
George Wagoner
Sacramento History Alliance
Shawn Turner and the Sacramento History Museum Staff
Underground Tour Guides
From the 1970s crew - Carlys Gilbert (left), a CRC student, and Eloise Barter, an archaeologist - told stories and answered questions about the original excavation.
George Wagoner, a collaborator on the original excavation, visited CRAWL and taught students about bottle identification.
Contributing colleague, Jess Whalen, with an articulated chicken, during a joint faunal lab session with UC Davis.
Scenes from the original Enterprise Hotel Excavation in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Students from primarily Cosumnes River College, but also American River College, worked under the direction of David Abrams to excavate the magnificent collection we have today.
Eloise Barter and David Abrams in the original archaeology lab at Cosumnes River College (circa 1980).
Field class breaks included picnics and a some libations. (L-R) Diana Abrams, Scott Williams, Eloise Barter
Diane Abrams tells students about the excavations during a visit in May 2018. Her stories brought the field class to life.
Mary Carroll worked on the excavation and holds a Sacramento Bee article from May 1981. She's featured in the lower picture.
Amanda demonstrates lab operations and artifact processing to Diane Abrams.
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