Archaeology at the University of Washington

New paper with UW Archaeology undergrad students Allie DiCiro and Nathan Mitchell! Their paper celebrates the career of UW Archaeology Professor Emeritus Julie K. Stein, on the occasion of her retirement as Director of the Burke Museum

DiCiro, A., Mitchell, N., & Marwick, B. (2024). Everything is a Deposit: An Interview with Pioneering Geoarchaeologist Julie K. Stein. Bulletin of the History of Archaeology, 34(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.5334/bha-697

Abstract: Julie Stein’s professional work was vital to the emergence and development of geoarchaeology as both a discipline and specialized community of practice among archaeologists, especially in North America. On the occasion of her retirement we interviewed Stein to document her reflections on the development of geoarchaeology. Her reflections present unique insights in the practical and intellectual challenges faced by a pioneering geoarchaeologist, especially as a woman in a field dominated by men. This interview helps to document the history of geoarchaeology from one of the preeminent leaders in the field. We present a brief summary of her education and career, including a summary of her key scholarly contributions spanning the development of geoarchaeology as a field. We present an edited transcript of our interview with Stein that includes questions about how she became a geoarchaeologist, her work with other notable geoarchaeologists, and her views on the role of geoarchaeology in archaeology today.

From Brandy Rinck:

The Seattle Area Group (SAG) of the Association for Washington Archaeology (AWA) and Burke Archaeology are hosting our next Thursday Evening Archaeology Social…

Join us at 5:00 PM for a social and networking hour to connect with your fellow students and heritage & archaeology professionals. Refreshments are provided. Beginning around 5:45 PM, we’ll hear from a variety of students, field school staff, and non-traditional training organizers as they discuss all things field school and training -- from selecting a program, to the questions you should ask, to what you might expect in the field!

When: Thursday, April 4, 2024
What Time: 5:00 - 5:45 PM (Social Hour); 5:45 - 7:00 PM (Presentations with Q&A).
The online session begins at 5.45 pm!
Where: Room 313 Denny Hall, University of Washington Campus
*You can also join us virtually from 5:45 -7:00 PM by registering on Zoom: https://bit.ly/3vfZMO8*

These Thursday Evening Archaeology meetings occur on Free First Thursdays at the Burke Museum.

Feel free to drop into the Burke either before or directly following our event!
The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Free First Thursdays and admission is *free* for all.

New paper with UW Anthropology undergrad student Yichun Chen!

"Women in the Lab, Men in the Field? Correlations between Gender and Research Topics at Three Major Archaeology Conferences":

Rising interest in gender equality in society has resulted in greater scrutiny of gender inequality in academic communities. Analysis of authorship of peer-reviewed publications shows that archaeology, like other academic fields, has long been dominated by men. We ask if gender disproportionality is evident in the topics presented by archaeologists at major conferences, particularly the Society of American Archaeology (SAA), the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), and the Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) meetings. Does participants’ gender correlate with the topics of their presentations? We analyzed presenters’ names in published programs to infer gender. We used machine learning to identify topics from presentation titles. We found distinctive topics that are strongly associated with women, such as cultural heritage, GIS, and isotope analyses. Awareness of these correlations between research topics and gender is important to ensure equitable participation in archaeology and unbiased access to training opportunities for students.

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/S6XGCSD7K8IFUB3BD6SI/full?target=10.1080/00934690.2023.2261083

Open access pre-print: https://osf.io/fsujr

Code & data: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZFB36

The Forest Service is hiring archaeology students!

These jobs are a great opportunities for students because it’s guaranteed full-time for the entire summer in their field, and they are very flexible with start and end dates to accommodate everyone’s school schedule.

Note that their federal hiring timeline is very long, and that students have to apply *this week* to be considered for the summer of 2023.

Undergrads may be eligible for GS-3 and GS-4 positions. Anthropology grad students will qualify for either a GS-5, GS-6 or a GS-7, depending on experience. So that is $17.31 to $21.44 an hour.

GS-7: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/680257700 # 23-TEMP3-R6-2362-7DT-MG

GS-6: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/680174300 23-TEMP3-R6-2361-6DT-ME

GS-5: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/680258900 23-TEMP3-R6-2360-5DT-MM

GS-4: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/680191000 23-TEMP3-R6-2359-4DT-HS

GS-3: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/680176700 23-TEMP3-R6-3257-3DT-ME

Job announcement: The University of Montana is hiring a NAGPRA coordinator/repatriation specialist/collections manager. It’s a permanent salaried position. Questions can be directed to Prof. Kelly Dixon ([email protected]).

Apply today for UW's Palaeolithic Archaeology Field School in Vietnam!

This summer A term field school will earn you 12 credits (NW/I&S) and teach you archaeological methods while excavating a site of early human settlement.

More details and application form: https://anthropology.washington.edu/study-abroad/anthropology-vietnam-palaeolithic-archaeology-field-school-vietnam

Anthropology Vietnam: Palaeolithic Archaeology Field School in Vietnam | Department of Anthropology | University of Washington Learn about study abroad opportunities in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Congratulations to UW Archaeology students Li-Ying Wang, Kaylee Pruski, Eloise Potter, and Raelee Hampton on their two papers in the current issue of the SAA Archaeological Record! Their articles are available here: http://onlinedigeditions.com/publication/?m=16146&i=700116&p=3

The students worked on analysing the results of the SAA's recent survey on the Principles of Archaeological Ethics to help the Society revise the Principles. They worked with an SAA Task Force, whose members also have several articles in this special collection "Ethics Should Concern Everyone". Check it out to learn what the future of archaeological ethics might be!

📢 Archaeology PhD scholarships! 📢

ChemArch is an International Doctoral Training Network of 15 interlinked fully-funded PhD Projects on the chemistry and molecular biology of prehistoric artefacts. There are 4 participating institutions and involving 20 project partners. Commences October 2021 and recruiting now.

How to apply: https://sites.google.com/palaeome.org/chemarch/how-to-apply?authuser=0

ChemArch - How to apply ChemArch is open to applicants of any nationality, subject to the eligibility criteria detailed below. Please contact us if you are unsure about these rules.

UW Archaeology Professor Sara Gonzalez was quoted in a news article published in Science today: "Fed-up archaeologists aim to fix ‘frat party’ atmosphere at field schools" https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/fed-archaeologists-aim-fix-frat-party-atmosphere-field-schools

"Well-managed, immersive field schools can build powerful and lasting bonds, says Sara Gonzalez, an archaeologist at the University of Washington, Seattle. She co-directs a field school with the Historic Preservation Office of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon on their reservation. “It’s an opportunity for students to learn directly from the tribe how to do archaeology.” The school prohibits alcohol and emphasizes inclusivity and respect. Each summer begins with discussions of what students are most excited about—and most afraid of. Together, the team comes up with principles to “minimize those fears and maximize that excitement,” Gonzalez says."

Fed-up archaeologists aim to fix ‘frat party’ atmosphere at field schools Drinking and s*xual harassment spur experiments to reform core training course

We're hiring! Please share widely!

Assistant Professor in Archaeology

The Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington invites applications for a full-time archaeologist with a focus on engaged health and wellness research with Indigenous or other descendant communities. Geographic and methodological expertise are open but should complement existing program strengths. Research should be innovative and methodologically rigorous. We seek candidates who are committed to transparency and open research approaches. Teaching responsibilities will include four courses in Anthropology, distributed between three academic terms (quarters), contributing to our undergraduate options in Archaeological Science and Indigenous Archaeology as well as to our archaeology graduate program. The candidate is expected to teach a method/lab course based in their area of expertise and a large lecture class, using innovative and inclusive pedagogies.

UW Anthropology faculty engage in research, teaching, and service. Tenure-track faculty in Anthropology have an annual service period of nine months (September 16-June 15). The position is expected to begin September 16, 2020 with the start of the autumn quarter. Other professional duties include an active research program, and service to the Department and University. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. Members of the Department of Anthropology maintain strong connections to a variety of other units on campus including American Indian Studies, Burke Museum, Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, Center for Social Science Computation and Research, Center for Statistics and the Social Sciences, Department of Global Health, eScience Institute, Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, Jackson School for International Studies, the Quaternary Research Center, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, the Science Studies Network, and the Simpson Center for the Humanities. The University of Washington serves a diverse population of 80,000 students, faculty and staff, including 34% first-generation college students and over 27% Pell Grant students. A recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan award for Faculty Career Flexibility, the UW supports career development and work-life balance for faculty.

The successful candidate will have a record that includes archaeology of health and wellness with Indigenous or other descendant communities. They must demonstrate strong commitment to integrity, equity, access, and inclusion in their research, teaching, and service. Applicants must have earned a doctorate — or foreign equivalent — in anthropology/archaeology, or related field, by the date of appointment; however, applicants who have not completed their PhD at the time of application will be considered.
To apply, use Interfolio (http://apply.interfolio.com/70006) and include the following items: (1) cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) teaching statement (addressing teaching philosophy and approaches to both large lecture courses and lab/methods classes, and discussion of teaching challenges and their solutions), (4) a list of courses prepared to teach including at least one large lecture course and one method or lab class with one paragraph abstract for each, (5) research statement (explication of research activities and accomplishments as well as future plans) (6) diversity statement (statement on how your teaching, research and/or service contribute to diversity through scholarship and/or by improving access to higher education for underrepresented individuals or groups), and (7) the names and contacts for three referees. As a guideline, we are looking for 1-2 pages (single spaced) for each of the statements on teaching, research, and diversity. The cover letter should be addressed to Dr. Ben Fitzhugh, search committee chair, Department of Anthropology. Priority will be given to applications received by 5 PM PST, December 15, 2019.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, s*x, s*xual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html #2432).

Apply - Interfolio

Job announcement: Archaeology & data science faculty positions at NYU!

Joint Faculty Position in a Faculty of Arts and Science Social Science Department and the Center for Data Science
New York University: NYU: Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS)
Location
New York, NY
Open Date
Oct 1, 2019

Description
We invite applications for a tenured or tenure-track position (rank open) for outstanding candidates with demonstrated abilities in both research and teaching in Social Science and Data Science. This is a fully joint position in two academic units: a Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) social science department and the Center for Data Science (CDS).

Qualifications
Candidates should have a substantive background and active research interests in Anthropology, Linguistics, Political Science, or Sociology. Candidates should further have substantive interest and experience in Data Science methodology, broadly defined, and use that knowledge in their research. Examples of techniques and areas with which candidates might be familiar include supervised and unsupervised learning, pattern recognition, data mining, statistical modeling, natural language processing, high performance computing, and using “text as data.” A PhD in one of the named social sciences is preferred for junior candidates, and an ideal candidate would have advanced training in both that social science and Data Science. A proven ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in both a substantive domain, and in data science techniques, is required for this position.

The starting date is September 1, 2020, subject to budgetary and administrative approval. Applications should include a CV, a teaching and research statement, a writing sample and at least three references. Because diversity and inclusion are an important part of the NYU mission, we request that you include a paragraph in your cover letter telling us how diversity and inclusion figure into your past, present, and future teaching, research and community engagement – additional information can be found here. Review of complete applications will begin November 1, 2019, but all applicants will be considered until the position is filled.

Application Instructions
Applicants must apply through Interfolio application page.



About FAS:

The Faculty of Arts and Science at NYU is at the heart of a leading research university that spans the globe. We seek scholars of the highest caliber who embody the diversity of the United States as well as the global society in which we live. We strongly encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and other individuals who are under-represented in the profession, across color, creed, race, ethnic and national origin, ability, gender and s*xual identity, or any other legally protected basis. NYU affirms the value of differing perspectives on the world as we strive to build the strongest possible university with the widest reach. To learn more about the FAS commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, please read here.

About CDS:

The Center for Data Science (CDS) is the focal point for NYU’s university-wide initiative in data science and statistics, established 6 years ago, and one of the country’s leading data science research and training facilities. CDS is a vibrant space with 16 jointly appointed faculty (growing to over 20 in the next two years) and 11 associated faculty across computer science, mathematics, engineering, neural science, linguistics, politics, psychology, physics, biology and business; a list of affiliate faculty spanning a wide range of NYU’s schools and departments, a highly successful Masters program, one of the first Data Science PhD programs as well as the new undergraduate program in data science. CDS’s research focuses on tools and methods at the intersection between applied mathematics, data science, high-dimensional statistics, machine learning, optimization, and several data driven application areas.

Equal Opportunity:

We strongly encourage applications from women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other individuals who are under-represented in the profession, across color, creed, race, ethnic and national origin, physical ability, gender and s*xual identity, or any other legally protected basis. NYU affirms the value of differing perspectives on the world as we strive to build the strongest possible university with the widest reach. To learn more about the FAS commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, please read our Diversity Initiative. EOE/Affirmative Action/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity. New York University is situated in Greenwich Village, one of the most vibrant and family friendly neighborhoods in the City of New York.

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Application Process
This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Applicants to this position receive a free Dossier account and can send all application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, free of charge.
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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
For people in the EU, click here for information on your privacy rights under GDPR: www.nyu.edu/it/gdpr

New York University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. New York University is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its hiring and promotion process without regard to race, color, creed, religion, s*x, pregnancy or childbirth (or related medical condition), s*xual orientation, partnership status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital, parental or familial status, caregiver status, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority s*xual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

Sustainability Statement

NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/sustainability

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Our world-class students, faculty, and scholars expect high achievement in pursuit of engaging the world's diverse challenges.

PhD Scholarship announcement: "Please could you draw this competition to the attention to any excellent students you may be aware of who are interested in pursuing a PhD at the Dept of Archaeology, University of Glasgow, and forward this message to any prospective candidates?

Some details of the competition may be found here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/humanities/latestnews/headline_675520_en.html

Some of you may be aware that I am moving to Glasgow on the 1st January 2020. I am specifically looking for potential candidates who may be interested in any of the following broad areas:

- Landscape Palaeocology and prehistoric human-environment interactions;

- Land use change at a continental scale; impacts of early agriculture

- Agricultural productivity and cultural changes

- Relationships between prehistoric/historic human resilience and climate change

- Exploitation of Wetland environments and resources

- Big data and modelling in archaeology (including the use of species distribution models)

- The use of insects to study archaeological landscapes and environments

- Chronological approaches to linking archaeology and palaeoecology

- Ecological impacts of Empire

The focus of the topic can be determined by the student but would need to fit into my areas of expertise; chronologically, interests are within prehistory, especially Mesolithic and Neolithic but I am interested in later prehistoric periods too, whilst geographically although my focus is in Britain and Ireland I am also interested in European landscapes and welcome students who wish to investigate Atlantic connections, and Mediterranean landscapes. Scholars interested in other parts of the world with an interest in the foci above should also feel free to get in touch.

A variety of archaeological science approaches could be pursued to best address the archaeological questions posted, but I am also very interested in big synthesis projects that use modelling and computational approaches and linking environmental with cultural attributes.

The competition is based on the strength of the candidate and proposal, so propsective candidates should ideally have a 1st class degree in Archaeology or closely allied discipline, and either have obtained or be taking an appropriate Masters qualification. Interested candidates should contact me if they are interested to discuss further no later than 5pm Friday 11th October; the first application deadline for an initial expression of interest is 5pm 18th October. The PhD funding is available for UK and EU candidates.

Thank you for your help!

Best wishes

Nicki

Prof Nicki J. Whitehouse, FRES, FSA
Professor in Human-Environment Systems
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
Plymouth University,
Drake Circus,
Plymouth, PL4 8AA,
England, UK,
Tel +44 01752 585957"

PhD Proposal Competition and Workshop Archaeology, University of Glasgow Wednesday 30 October 2019

Seminar announcement: UW Archaeology graduate Cyler Conrad will be giving a lecture in Spokane, all welcome!

Prehispanic Turkey Domestication, Husbandry, And Management In The North American Southwest
november 21, 2019 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture
2316 W 1st Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201 United States

Sponsored by: Spokane Society

AIA Society: Spokane
Presented by Dr. Cyler Conrad

Turkeys played a significant role in prehispanic Ancestral Puebloan life in the North American Southwest. Used for a variety of socio-economic purposes, including for feathers, meat, eggs, creation of bone tools and as an iconographic figure, turkey remains appear in abundance throughout archaeological sites spanning a 1,000-year period between approximately 600-1600 A.D./C.E. In this talk I use information from animal bones at archaeological sites, and studies of ancient turkey DNA and stable isotopes (as a proxy for turkey diets) to identify long-term trends in the domestication, husbandry, and management of these birds (Meleagris gallopavo) throughout the recent past. I use case study examples from the northern Rio Grande to illustrate the diversity and complexity of human-turkey interaction in the Pueblo world, and what this means for human-turkey interaction today.

https://www.archaeological.org/event/prehispanic-turkey-domestication-husbandry-and-management-in-the-north-american-southwest/

AIA Event Listings - Prehispanic Turkey Domestication, Husbandry, and Management in the North American Southwest - Spokane Society Archaeological event listing for Spokane Society

Postdoc announcement: "The 'Lise Meitner' Pan African Evolution Research Group (Pan-Ev) at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and the Extreme Events Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology are pleased to announce a vacancy for a postdoctoral research assistant in modelling and data science. The position will be for up to four years and shared between the two groups, both based in Jena, Germany. The candidate will be given an initial 3 years contract with the possibility of extension of a further 12 months. More details: https://www.shh.mpg.de/1437604/postdoc-data-science

The overarching research topic in Pan-Ev is to develop innovative interdisciplinary methods and conduct fieldwork in underrepresented regions of Africa to understand human evolutionary processes across the continent. The Extreme Events group is conducting complementary research looking at the character and impacts of extreme events in biological, societal and earth and systems.

The candidate’s job will be to help develop approaches and models to better understand the archaeological and ecological data being generated by both groups, supporting the P*s and other research group members. The candidate will also spend some time with project collaborator, Dr Yoan Diekmann at the University of Mainz.

The ideal applicant will have a computational background, e.g. in computer science, statistics or physics, or a strong track record of having applied methods from these areas. In depth knowledge of statistical data analysis and modelling and interest to creatively apply these skills are essential. Interest (but not necessarily experience) in human evolution and its relationship with culture and environment is a prerequisite. Prior experience with archaeological, climatic and cultural data and their multivariate analysis, e.g. in an Approximate Bayesian Computation framework, are a plus.

Prerequisites also include evidence of strong oral and written communication skills as evidence by an outstanding publication and presentation record, commensurate with career stage. The ability to complete tasks in a timely and structured fashion is also required for the position. Willingness to travel is essential.

The position offers a unique opportunity to the successful candidate to develop cutting edge research across two overlapping groups concerned with understanding key evolutionary processes in human prehistory. The candidate would ideally start the position not later than the beginning of 2020, but a start date is open to negotiation. Please send any queries to [email protected].

The Max Planck Society is committed to employ more handicapped individuals and especially encourages them to apply. The Max Planck Society also seeks to increase the number of women in areas where they are under-represented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

Remuneration will follow the public service pay scale (TVöD), according to qualification and experience. In addition, social benefits are offered according to the regulations of the Civil Service.

Please submit your application as a single pdf file in English until October 15 2019 using the link below. References are also due at October 15 2019.

Your application should include cover letter, CV of no more than 4 pages, list of publications and relevant certificates.

https://lotus2.gwdg.de/mpg/mjws/perso/shh_p020.nsf/application

Contact for more information:

Dr. Eleanor Scerri

Email: [email protected] "

lotus2.gwdg.de

Crowdsourced archaeology shows how humans have influenced Earth for thousands of years A new map synthesized from more than 250 archaeologists worldwide, including from the University of Washington, argues that the human imprint on our planet's soil goes back much earlier than the...

Congratulations to UW Archaeology student Ian Kretzler who passed his PhD defense last week!

His advisor, Prof Sara Gonzalez, writes: "It is my distinct pleasure to congratulate Dr. Ian Kreztler on defending his dissertation, 'An Archaeology of Survivance on the Grand Ronde Reservation: Telling Stories of Enduring Native Presence'! His presentation was well-attended, both in-person and virtually by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde's Culture Department, and he passed his defense with flying colors."

Bravo Ian!

PhD scholarship announcement: a fully-funded PhD scholarship in ‘New cultural taxonomies for the European Final Palaeolithic (15,000-11,000 cal BP)’

The remit is as follows:

The cultural taxonomy of the European Final Palaeolithic is in crisis. As part of CLIOARCH’s work package II, the aim of this PhD project is to test old and derive new cultural taxonomies for the European Final Palaeolithic/earliest Mesolithic (15-11ka BP) using cultural evolutionary theory and attendant computational methods. Drawing in part on previously amassed data as well as data collected by CLIOARCH members and the PhD student, focus will be placed on (a) 2D and/or 3D geometric morphometric methods for artefact recording; and (b) phylogenetic methods for constructing taxonomies.

The students will be employed on a very favourable Danish PhD contract and will be associated with the generously funded CLIOARCH project (see http://cas.au.dk/en/erc-clioarch/) where the PhD student will be working in a great team and under excellent conditions with plentiful provisions for data collection, travel and conference attendance.

Full information is available here: http://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/open-and-specific-calls/phd-call-2019-14/ – the deadline is Oct 1, 2019.

CLIOARCH CLIOARCH stands for CLIOdynamic ARCHaeology: Computational approaches to Final Palaeolithic/earliest Mesolithic archaeology and climate change. This project seeks to quantify and hence qualify human responses to rapidly changing climates, extreme environmental events, migration and adaptation in the...