Archaeology Majors Present Research at Annual Central States Meeting

Nine Wooster students attend 85th annual conference held March 27-29 in Indianapolis

College of Wooster archaeology majors (from left) Terry Workman, Emily Long, Margaret Bullock, Aubrey Brown, Dave Walton, Alicia Dissinger, Ashley Jirsa, Christopher Stelter, and Elizabeth Eckel presented their research at the Central States Anthropological Society's (CSAS) 85th annual meeting March 27-29 in Indianapolis.

WOOSTER, Ohio - Nine archaeology majors from The College of Wooster successfully presented - and defended - their research in front of some of the leading professionals in their field at the 85th annual meeting of the Central States Anthropological Society (CSAS) last month in Indianapolis. Seven of the students discussed the results of their Senior Independent Study (I.S.) project, Wooster's nationally renowned capstone experience, which matches each student with a faculty mentor in a yearlong research venture that culminates in a graduate-level thesis, performance, or exhibition of artwork.

"It's really the final step in the research process," said Nick Kardulias, professor of anthropology and archaeology at Wooster. "We want our students to understand that the project doesn't end with the final paper. They need to be able to present their results and field questions from professionals in the field."

Kardulias, who organized and moderated the two sessions in which Wooster students made their presentations, strongly encourages his students to participate in these annual meetings. "Most students don't have an opportunity to present at professional meetings until graduate school," said Kardulias, who has accompanied Wooster students to regional or national meetings every year since 1998. "We believe that our students have a distinct advantage because they get a head start on the process by presenting as undergraduates."

Alicia Dissinger, a senior from Newport, Pa., is one of those students. She presented at the first session, titled "Recent Work of the Athienou Archaeological Project" (an ongoing project in which students have been excavating, surveying, and conducting ethnoarchaeological research in central Cyprus since 1990). Dissinger discussed "The Development of Cypriot Sanctuaries in Relation to Greek Influence from the Late Cypriot through the Cypro-Archaic."

The second session, titled "Archaeology as Anthropology: Culture and the Interpretation of the Past," focused on the use of anthropological concepts and methods to investigate a range of archaeological issues. This session featured the other eight Wooster students, including Aubrey Brown, a senior from Fredericktown, Ohio. Her project, "Building for the Future, Saving for the Past: Historical Preservation in Wooster, Ohio," generated both local and regional interest.

"Presenting my Senior Independent Study project at the CSAS conference was one of the most thrilling experiences I have had during my four years at Wooster," said Brown. "I was extremely anxious prior to giving my presentation to stand before a crowd of professionals and peers, until I realized that I had spent the past six months becoming an expert on the development of Wooster's historical downtown and residential districts. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to publicly present a project that I worked so hard on for so long. This conference was great preparation for what I can expect to do in the future."

Joining Brown were Elizabeth Eckel, a senior from Millersville, Md., and Ashley Jirsa, a senior from Cleveland. Eckel talked about "Putting Her in Her Place: Gender, Archaeology, and the Anglo-Norman Castle." Jirsa presented "Interpreting Africa's Past: the Use of Ekistics and Oral Tradition in the Examination of Great Zimbabwe."

Also presenting were Margaret Bullock, a senior from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who summarized her study of "The Impact of the Vikings in the Development of Settlement Types and Patterns in Early Medieval Ireland;" Emily Long, a senior from Columbus who explained her project, titled "Welcome to the Past: An Analysis of the Historiography and Archaeology Behind Early Colonial Living History Museums in America;" and Christopher Stelter, a senior from Wampum, Pa., who talked about "Counting Threads: Quantification as a Complexity Indicator in Egyptian Coptic Textiles."

The other two presenters were David Walton, a junior from Oak Harbor, Ohio, and Terry Workman, a sophomore from Hillsboro, Ohio. Walton discussed his Junior I.S. project, "Archeology and Public Communication," and Workman explained his work "The Morgan Homestead: A Glimpse into the Prehistory of Wayne County, Ohio."

Each of the students made a 20-minute presentation, followed by a brief question-and-answer session. "Our students handled themselves very well," said Kardulias. "They were especially well prepared in responding to questions from the professionals attending the sessions."

Workman, the youngest member of the group, reflected on the value of the experience. "Presenting my first professionally viewed paper at the Central States Anthropological Society Meeting was very rewarding because it allowed me to share my survey team's research with scholars from around the country," he said. "The presentation acted not so much as the culmination of my research but as a stepping stone to more exciting fieldwork to be undertaken."

In addition to the nine students who attended the regional meeting, Whitney Goodwin, a senior archaeology and anthropology major from Granville, Ohio, was invited to present her research at the Society for American Archaeology national meeting in Vancouver. Her paper was titled "Revealing Core-Periphery Interactions through Architecture and Ceramic Production at El Cafetal, Honduras."