Lab Personnel
The Arch Lab team is a passionate group of students and faculty who aim to train and mentor undergraduate students.
Lab managers are highly capable and driven students who have been trained by Dr. Jones.
Director
Dr. Olivia A. Jones
Dr. Olivia A. Jones (PhD University of Groningen) obtained her B.A. from WVU and an M.A. from University College London in the United Kingdom. Jones’ doctoral research focused on approaching Mycenaean (Late Bronze Age) mortuary practices with a bioarchaeological methodology. Her current research examines Mycenaean infant burial practices and human remains with a multi-faceted methodology including paleopathology and aDNA analyses. Jones is also actively engaged in fieldwork as the bioarchaeologist on multiple projects in Greece.
In addition to her academic research, Jones has worked in contract archaeology in the eastern US and is currently the Lead Curator at the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville, WV. She supervises the research facility and manages the state of West Virginia archaeology collections and assists with NAGPRA inventories, consultations, and repatriation.
Dr. Jones’ teaching specialties include human osteology and the anthropology of death. She is passionate about helping students think critically about the role of science in archaeological contexts as well as forensic settings. Her teaching experience includes traditional lecture-based courses, online teaching, hands-on laboratory instruction, and training students in field excavation.
Department Staff Page: Dr. Olivia A. Jones - SOCA Faculty
Lab Coordinator
Bryan K. Hill - Class of 2024
Bryan is a senior at WVU majoring in Anthropology and History with a minor in Spanish. He is currently the Vice President of the Anthropology Club and a member of the History Club. Bryan is a first generation college student interested in pursuing a career in archaeology.
Bryan has been a teaching assistant for introductory anthropology courses and has conducted research on Medical Anthropology through the RAP program under the supervision of Dr. Susanna Donaldson. Bryan is also an Eberly scholar (2022-2023 & 2023-2024) and a two-time recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship. In the summer of 2022, Bryan completed an archaeological field school in Peru, and during the summer of 2023 he completed an immersive Spanish language and culture program in Spain.
As the Archaeology Lab Coordinator, Bryan manages day-to-day operations of the lab including all scheduling, training sessions, and supervising of laboratory technicians.
Email: bkh00001@mix.wvu.edu
Lab Managers
Bethanny Prascik - Class of 2024
Bethanny is a senior majoring in Anthropology and Dance with a minor in Art History. She is the current Treasurer of the Anthropology Club, and a member of Circle K, the Honors Student Association, and the Student Dance Association. She has conducted research through the RAP Program on Appalachian Dance, under the direction of Dr. Travis Stimeling.
Bethanny's archaeological experience includes being the Governor's Intern at the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex under head curator, Dr. Olivia A. Jones. During the summer of 2022, Bethanny was granted funding through through the WVU Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program to conduct research on the excavation history of a Native American mound in Harrison County. Bethanny gained experience in archaeological conservation through the San Gemini program. Bethany's interests focus on museum collections, conservation, and researching legacy collections.
Bethanny's role in the Arch Lab is as a researcher and supervisor of student technicians. Email: blp0028@mix.wvu.edu
Lab Researchers
Lab researchers are students who are working with Dr. Jones or Bryan Hill on a specific project. Researchers must maintain at least 8 hours of lab work each week to be active research members of the lab group. Researchers may be employed via Federal Work Study, working towards credits via independent study or conducting research through WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
Audrey Caiola - Class of 2024
Audrey is a senior at WVU majoring in Anthropology with minors in Forensic Science and Criminology. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Anthropology Club. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Audrey is conducting research through the RAP program with Dr. Olivia Jones on case study of craniosynostosis in the Late Bronze Age Greece.
Audrey received osteological training at the Center of American Archeology’s Advanced Bioarchaeology Field School under the instruction of Dr. Jane Buikstra. She has plans to continue her education in graduate school studying Forensic Anthropology.
Seth Marks - Class of 2023
(current graduate student)
Seth Marks is native of West Virginia and completed a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree with minors in both history and anthropology. In summer of 2022, Seth completed the archeology field school jointly taught by WVU and California University of Pennsylvania.
Seth worked as an archaeological field technician during the summer after graduation and is currently continuing his education in a graduate program.
Seth's research in the lab centers on reconstructing social aspects of the Blennerhassetts and early 18th century western Virginia using the archaeological collections being processed in the lab.
Lab Technicians
Lab technicians are students who have been extensively trained by Dr. Jones or Bryan Hill and are able to process archaeological collections with minimal supervision. Technicians must maintain at least 20 hours of lab work each semester to be active members of the lab group. Technicians may be employed via Federal Work Study, working towards credits via independent study or Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP), or on a volunteer basis.
Hillary Probst - Class of 2025
Hillary is a sophomore majoring in anthropology and minoring in geology and art history. She is a first generation college student who recently completed an internship at Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex where she was trained in artifact processing and identification.
Normally, Hillary works roughly 25 hours/week in the lab washing, identifying, and rebagging artifacts. However, during the 2023-2024 academic year, Hillary is studying abroad in Italy.
Lenna Lyons - Class of 2024
Lenna is a senior history major with minors in anthropology and French. Having studied abroad in Greece, her interest in archaeology has only grown after visiting ancient sites and museums there. During the summer of 2023 Lenna completed an internship at Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex where she focusing on digitizing archival photos and washing artifacts.
Lenna is currently applying to graduate programs in the UK where her goal is to pursue a masters and Ph.D. in archaeology with a focus in Egyptology.
Alumni Staff
Ty Linthicum - Class of 2023
Ty graduated from WVU with a BA in anthropology. While at WVU, he was secretary of the WVU Anthropology Club. During summer 2022, he completed the WVU field school and an internship at Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex where he was trained in artifact processing and identification.
Ty is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Applied Archaeology and is a research assistant in the zooarchaeology lab at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Wesley Nelson - Class of 2022
Wes graduated from WVU in 2022 with a BA in Anthropology and a minor in communications. Under the supervision of Dr. Jones, Wes completed the Research Apprenticeship Program and presented a poster at the WVU Undergraduate Research Symposium on a historic burial from a site in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
Wes is currently completing his Master's degree in Applied Archaeology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where his focus is on historical archaeology.
Danny Dillon - Class of 2021
Danny graduated from WVU in 2021 with a BA in Anthropology and is now in an Applied Anthropology master’s program at Mississippi State University. He currently focuses on bioarchaeology in the ancient Greek world and is advised by Dr. Anna Osterholtz. Danny's thesis deals with ideas of collective identity and elitism in Mycenaean Greece.
Danny is currently the 2023-2024 AmeriCorps museum & collections assistant at the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex.