Welcome to the 6th Annual Grad Forum where our Public Issues Anthropology MA students present their research.
This event will include a Meet & Greet with grad students and professors.
Learn more about new research topics!
Friday, November 18th, 2022
GRACE LENZ - A Demographic and Paleopathological Analysis of a Perplexing Group of Graves in Ancient Corinth, Greece
The 2019 and 2022 excavation season at Ancient Corinth, Greece uncovered a perplexing group of graves with limited cultural context. This thesis is a pilot study, providing a demographic and paleopathological analysis of the individuals buried here using osteobiographies to reconstruct life in the past. The goal of my research is to get a preliminary sense of who is buried here and to humanize the skeletal remains.
Photo courtesy of the Greek Archaeological Service and the Ministry of Culture and Sport.
JESSICA CLARKE - Smile! Comparing the Prevalence of Caries and Calculus in Two Rural Greek Cemeteries for Evidence of Dietary Differences
The purpose of this study is to look at the general dental health of the skeletons from North-East of Theatre at Ancient Corinth and compare it to the individuals from the Panayia cemetery. This study involves a statistical analysis of caries and calculus rates using person-years to calculate the prevalence of these dental pathologies within the populations. Through this analysis, evidence of dietary factors that influence dental health will be discussed.
Photo courtesy of Prof. Maria Liston.
NATHAN HOMERSKI - Accessibility in Bioarchaeology: Methods of 3D Imaging Using Entheses
This study details research into two methods of creating 3D models of human remains: laser scanning and photogrammetry. The models produced were evaluated for various qualitative attributes and quantitatively tested against visual methods of grading entheseal change. The discussion around these methods will be centred around issues of accessibility within the field.
CAREY MATTHEWS - Carrying Sacred Plants: An Archaeobotanical Analysis of the Iler Earthworks Macro Remains
Despite an opaque understanding of the timing and effects of food production among the Western Basin Tradition peoples of extreme southwestern Ontario, archaeobotanical analyses of sites has been limited. Through a study of plant remains from the SpringwellsPhase Iler Earthworks, I aim to contribute to the plant-based foodways narrative to better understand WBT peoples, especially during the transitional period between the Springwellsand Wolf phases. Additionally, as part of this study, I delve into the public issue of Indigenous sovereignty by outlining how archaeologists can collaborate and support rematriation efforts involving seed stewardship, contributing to the knowledge and record of sacred plants.
ANDREW DASILVA FURTADO - Pots and People: Understanding Pottery Production and Decorative Style in the Western Basin
Throughout the history of archaeology, the analysis of pottery has become one of the foundations for archaeologists’ interpretations of the past. This study examines a pottery assemblage from the Western Basin tradition, specifically the Springwells and early Wolf period site of Iler Earthworks. Through an attribute-based analysis of the Iler Earthwork pottery assemblage, interpretations can be made regarding pottery stylistic decisions and the larger archaeological region of the Western Basin during this transitional period.
YINGJIA WANG - Talking with design trend forecasters in China
My research is more like a re-encounter with my fragmented memories, with the help of three design trend forecasters who had inspired me in different ways and continue to generously support me in my thesis work. The interlocutors correspond to three stages of my life, but they seem to dialogue with each other across interviews. Our knowledge of design used to be similar to some extent in certain spacetime, yet we all proceeded into dissimilar routes, one into scenario innovation, one into quantitative study, one into user research, and me into anthropology. I consider this re-encounter as a recollecting and reinterpreting process. My experiences - whether forgotten or haunted - are recalled by their words, and they collide into new understandings.
ALICE XU - Data Production Through iNaturalist, An Anthropological Approach
iNaturalist is a common mobile application used in biodiversity citizen science projects and education. The application lets users submit species ‘observations’ that can include correlating photo and audio data. As explicit anthropological engagement with citizen science remains an area for ripe exploration, this thesis thus aims to adopt an anthropological approach to explore a sample of iNaturalist users in Ontario and the aspirations of biodiversity citizen science to realize its ability to produce practically usable data.
Join us
The Graduate Forum is free to attend and all are welcome!
Join us and learn more about these new research topics! More detailed information will be available in our Program Plan (coming soon!)
Parking is available in Lot C. Cost is $5.00