Teaching

Introduction to Anthropology in Rome

I teach this course regularly during the academic year, but I made significant modifications in order to take advantage of the location in Rome. This was an ideal course to teach during a study abroad program as the students are acutely aware of cultural variation as they immersed themselves in life in Rome. The course covers a variety of topics from human evolution to archaeology to linguistics and culture. I developed a series of fieldwork activities around Rome in order to allow students to engage in anthropology in a variety of settings. Following the fieldwork exercises, the students write blogs about their observations at various sites.

Fieldwork Exercises

• Primate observations at Rome Zoo
• Human Evolution Exhibit at the Anthropology Museum at the University of Rome
• Etruscan Museum of Rome
• Catacombs of San Sebastian in Rome
• Outdoor food market
• Museum and synagogue in Jewish Ghetto
• Roman Catholic Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City

Human Skeletal Analysis in Hungary

The students produce accurate inventories of human skeletal remains from approximately 50 individuals each. The students assess sex and age of individuals from skeletal remains. They gain an appreciation to human variation in sexual dimorphism and examine skeletons of all ages from neonatal skeletons to old aged individuals. They describe the health and pathologies present on skeletal remains and dentition. In addition to the unique opportunities provided by the skeletal collection, the students also engage in a number of different cultural activities. They visited an archaeological park, museums, attend a cookout with the Szeged Anthropology Department , kayak on the Tisza river, spend a weekend sightseeing in Budapest, visit the 19th century thermal bathhouse in Szeged, among other cultural activities. Learn more about the program: https://sites.google.com/g.clemson.edu/hungary-study-abroad

Human Remains Recovery

Students work in teams to recover human remains from both a surface scatter and burial contexts. Students located, flagged, photographed, documented, and mapped human remains that simulated surface recoveries. Students also located, excavated, and recovered human remains, associated personal artifacts, and other materials from clandestine graves.

Creative Inquiry Undergraduate Research: An Examination of Death in Pickens County, SC

This project provides a service learning opportunity with the Pickens County Coroner's Office to create a GIS digital database of death investigation records in the county over the past several decades. Currently, records are only available in paper files. A relational GIS database will allow for the examination of detailed trends related to deaths in the county from both temporal and spatial perspectives and related to demographic characteristics of the county.