Photos provided by Annie Reigert.
The October speaker is
Annie Riegert, M.A., RPA, Independent Bioarchaeologist | Skeletal Analysis, Repatriation, & Compliance Consultant
will be presenting:
The human skeleton is far more than a biological structure—it is a living archive of experience, a corporeal record of survival, stress, adaptation, and resilience. This talk explores the interpretive power of bioarchaeological methodologies—such as morphometrics, pathology, and biomechanical analysis—when integrated with a life course approach to reconstruct the complexities of lived experience. Drawing on my research with skeletal collections from Romania, Belize, and Texas, I demonstrate how the body bears the imprint of broader social, environmental, and political realities.
These case studies highlight how life-history events—from individual experiences of stress in utero and early childhood through adulthood, to large-scale episodes of community disruption—are etched into the skeletal system. By placing individual bodies within their wider cultural and ecological contexts, bioarchaeology not only reconstructs the past but also provides a powerful lens for understanding human complexity in the present.
Crucially, this approach gives voice to those historically silenced—populations who did not leave written records but whose bones still speak. Their stories—often marginalized, erased, or never told—emerge through the very material of their being, offering a deeper, more inclusive account of what it meant to exist. In recognizing the body as a multivocal archive, we gain insight into how histories of inequality, resilience, and adaptation continue to shape the contemporary world—and how the worlds we build, in turn, shape us.
Annie Riegert, M.A., RPA
Independent Bioarchaeologist | Skeletal Analysis, Repatriation, & Compliance Consultant Annie Riegert is a bioarchaeologist and repatriation consultant with over a decade of experience in human osteology, NAGPRA compliance, and tribal consultation. She currently works independently and is pursuing an MLS in Indigenous Peoples Law, bringing academic rigor and cultural sensitivity to ethical stewardship.
The next regular meeting will be held on our usual schedule, the third Tuesday of the month at 7pm at Casa Chapala's Austin location, 9041 Research Blvd., Suite 100 (Hwy 183 and Burnet Rd.) Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month, except June and December. They are free and open to the public. For those who wish to come early, we gather around 5:45 PM for dinner, drinks, and fellowship. The short business meeting starts at 7:00 PM, followed by the guest speaker's presentation.
Tuesdays 10am, ongoing Labwork for Joyful Horse materials. Sort and label pre-contact artifacts (lots of lithics!) to create teaching kits available for loan to area educators. THC Wheless Lab, 2801 Wheless Lane, Austin 78723. Send us a message from the Contact page for more details or to RSVP.
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(Texas A&M Press, 2017)
Wondering what our programs are like? View the list of speakers and topics we've had since 2006. Or watch a few of our pandemic-era programs on our YouTube channel.
