Katie Kirakosian - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Katie Kirakosian

The results of an experimental archaeology laboratory project are presented here, which was taugh... more The results of an experimental archaeology laboratory project are presented here, which was taught in-person here in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Paying homage to Rathje and Murphy (2001), each group of students investigated modern refuse by analyzing the contents of vacuum bags, which were donated by members of the Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) community. The learning outcomes, laboratory methodology, logistics, student feedback and instructor reflections are presented here as well.

Historical Archaeology, 2019

Harris Hawthorne Wilder, a professor of zoology at Smith College, was trained in anatomy and phys... more Harris Hawthorne Wilder, a professor of zoology at Smith College, was trained in anatomy and physical anthropology in Germany at the end of the 19th century. He taught at Smith College, a private liberal-arts college for women, from 1892 to 1927. Not unusual for the times, his interests in archaeology and anthropology were very broad. He excavated sites in what can be considered, at best, dubious ethical circumstances and created a wide-ranging collection of artifacts, human remains, and anatomical specimens. One of the more curious collections was of human-hair samples, which included "specimens" from students at Smith College, his own family members, and a small subcategory he referred to as "ethnics." We chart his proclivity for collecting many items of an anatomical, archaeological, or anthropological nature, and focus on his human-hair samples to contextualize the nature of these collections in terms of late 19th-and early 20thcentury views on race, ethnicity, and gender in anthropology. We take the position that to understand this collection more fully it is essential to know the life and times of its collector, including his role in the academic history of the Connecticut Valley, and we suggest that Wilder himself was conflicted as to its meaning and purpose.

Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2017

Due to various factors, physical archives of archaeological significance are inconsistent in term... more Due to various factors, physical archives of archaeological significance are inconsistent in terms of level of organization and ability to access. In addition, while well-versed in archaeological theory and method, archaeologists are seldom trained in archival theory and method. These factors make it challenging for archaeologists to utilize archival records. Given some unique parallels between archival records and the archaeological record, the authors suggest that archaeological field training can, in fact, serve archaeologists quite well when conducting archival research. While this article focuses mainly on primary sources in physical archives, some discussion of digital archives is included here as well.

Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2017

ABSTRACTArchaeology as a field is experiencing a curation crisis—our professional paper trail is ... more ABSTRACTArchaeology as a field is experiencing a curation crisis—our professional paper trail is extensive, and we are not properly trained to adequately catalogue and curate these records. For decades, a handful of archaeologists have pushed for our discipline to confront this crisis—we need better methods for creating records and maintaining archives, as well as stronger training in how to effectively conduct archival research. This issue of Advances in Archaeological Practice echoes these earlier calls to action, adding new voices and perspectives. In addition to the theme of a curation crisis, our authors discuss access to archival records and the relationship between archives and power. The authors and guest editors of this issue hope the contributions presented here will inspire more sustained engagement with archival training, theory, and praxis.

Learning and Teaching, 2017

In this article, we discuss how adding a final film project to a revised ‘Culture through Film’ c... more In this article, we discuss how adding a final film project to a revised ‘Culture through Film’ course led to deeper student learning and higher rates of student success, as well as increased student satisfaction. Ultimately, we urge social science educators to include experiential projects in their courses that connect to all learning styles. Such projects should also challenge students to ‘create’, a task that requires generating ideas, planning and ultimately producing something, which, according to Bloom’s revised taxonomy, engages students in the highest cognitive process (Anderson and Krathwohl 2000). Although this class focused on the intersections of culture and film and was taught at an American university, we believe these lessons apply more broadly.

Archaeologies, 2016

In this piece of short fiction, readers will explore the experiences of four American archaeologi... more In this piece of short fiction, readers will explore the experiences of four American archaeologists as they complete an archaeological excavation impacted by laws at the local (Massachusetts State) and national (federal USA) level. All four archaeologists are in various stages of their careers in archaeology and find themselves working together for the same privatized Cultural Resource Management (CRM) firm on an unexpectedly complex and sensitive site excavation. Here readers are urged to consider how archaeologists' previous experiences (both personal and professional) impact site excavations, and how, in turn, each project leaves an impression on an archaeological professional moving forward. They are further invited to relate the experiences of the archaeologists in the story to their own-possibly very different-experiences. While site context is key at every excavation, is the human context equally relevant? ________________________________________________________________ Résumé: Dans cette courte nouvelle, les lecteurs découvriront quatre archéologues américains procédant à une excavation archéologique réglementée par des lois locales (État du Massachusetts) et nationales (lois fédérales américaines). Ces quatre archéologues, chacun à un niveau professionnel distinct, sont rassemblés afin de travailler pour la même firme ________________________________________________________________ Resumen: En este corto documento de ficció n, los lectores explorarán las experiencias de cuatro arqueó logos americanos mientras completan una excavació n arqueoló gica a la que le afectan las leyes a nivel local (Estado de Massachusetts) y a nivel nacional (EE.UU. federal) Los cuatro arqueó logos FORUM

Bulletin of the History of Archaeology, 2015

out to map these complex, modern social phenomena in new and informative ways. After briefly summ... more out to map these complex, modern social phenomena in new and informative ways. After briefly summarizing the theoretical concepts of Social Network Analysis and meshworks, I introduce two related concepts that I have formulated through my research: social terrain and social climate. Finally, I consider how these concepts inform, and are informed by, the social circles of two important characters within Massachusetts archaeology: Jeffries Wyman and Ross Moffett. Both men's professional lives illuminate complex social webs woven in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, which continue to affect present-day archaeologists as well.

North American Archaeologist, 2015

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014

The results of an experimental archaeology laboratory project are presented here, which was taugh... more The results of an experimental archaeology laboratory project are presented here, which was taught in-person here in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Paying homage to Rathje and Murphy (2001), each group of students investigated modern refuse by analyzing the contents of vacuum bags, which were donated by members of the Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) community. The learning outcomes, laboratory methodology, logistics, student feedback and instructor reflections are presented here as well.

Historical Archaeology, 2019

Harris Hawthorne Wilder, a professor of zoology at Smith College, was trained in anatomy and phys... more Harris Hawthorne Wilder, a professor of zoology at Smith College, was trained in anatomy and physical anthropology in Germany at the end of the 19th century. He taught at Smith College, a private liberal-arts college for women, from 1892 to 1927. Not unusual for the times, his interests in archaeology and anthropology were very broad. He excavated sites in what can be considered, at best, dubious ethical circumstances and created a wide-ranging collection of artifacts, human remains, and anatomical specimens. One of the more curious collections was of human-hair samples, which included "specimens" from students at Smith College, his own family members, and a small subcategory he referred to as "ethnics." We chart his proclivity for collecting many items of an anatomical, archaeological, or anthropological nature, and focus on his human-hair samples to contextualize the nature of these collections in terms of late 19th-and early 20thcentury views on race, ethnicity, and gender in anthropology. We take the position that to understand this collection more fully it is essential to know the life and times of its collector, including his role in the academic history of the Connecticut Valley, and we suggest that Wilder himself was conflicted as to its meaning and purpose.

Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2017

Due to various factors, physical archives of archaeological significance are inconsistent in term... more Due to various factors, physical archives of archaeological significance are inconsistent in terms of level of organization and ability to access. In addition, while well-versed in archaeological theory and method, archaeologists are seldom trained in archival theory and method. These factors make it challenging for archaeologists to utilize archival records. Given some unique parallels between archival records and the archaeological record, the authors suggest that archaeological field training can, in fact, serve archaeologists quite well when conducting archival research. While this article focuses mainly on primary sources in physical archives, some discussion of digital archives is included here as well.

Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2017

ABSTRACTArchaeology as a field is experiencing a curation crisis—our professional paper trail is ... more ABSTRACTArchaeology as a field is experiencing a curation crisis—our professional paper trail is extensive, and we are not properly trained to adequately catalogue and curate these records. For decades, a handful of archaeologists have pushed for our discipline to confront this crisis—we need better methods for creating records and maintaining archives, as well as stronger training in how to effectively conduct archival research. This issue of Advances in Archaeological Practice echoes these earlier calls to action, adding new voices and perspectives. In addition to the theme of a curation crisis, our authors discuss access to archival records and the relationship between archives and power. The authors and guest editors of this issue hope the contributions presented here will inspire more sustained engagement with archival training, theory, and praxis.

Learning and Teaching, 2017

In this article, we discuss how adding a final film project to a revised ‘Culture through Film’ c... more In this article, we discuss how adding a final film project to a revised ‘Culture through Film’ course led to deeper student learning and higher rates of student success, as well as increased student satisfaction. Ultimately, we urge social science educators to include experiential projects in their courses that connect to all learning styles. Such projects should also challenge students to ‘create’, a task that requires generating ideas, planning and ultimately producing something, which, according to Bloom’s revised taxonomy, engages students in the highest cognitive process (Anderson and Krathwohl 2000). Although this class focused on the intersections of culture and film and was taught at an American university, we believe these lessons apply more broadly.

Archaeologies, 2016

In this piece of short fiction, readers will explore the experiences of four American archaeologi... more In this piece of short fiction, readers will explore the experiences of four American archaeologists as they complete an archaeological excavation impacted by laws at the local (Massachusetts State) and national (federal USA) level. All four archaeologists are in various stages of their careers in archaeology and find themselves working together for the same privatized Cultural Resource Management (CRM) firm on an unexpectedly complex and sensitive site excavation. Here readers are urged to consider how archaeologists' previous experiences (both personal and professional) impact site excavations, and how, in turn, each project leaves an impression on an archaeological professional moving forward. They are further invited to relate the experiences of the archaeologists in the story to their own-possibly very different-experiences. While site context is key at every excavation, is the human context equally relevant? ________________________________________________________________ Résumé: Dans cette courte nouvelle, les lecteurs découvriront quatre archéologues américains procédant à une excavation archéologique réglementée par des lois locales (État du Massachusetts) et nationales (lois fédérales américaines). Ces quatre archéologues, chacun à un niveau professionnel distinct, sont rassemblés afin de travailler pour la même firme ________________________________________________________________ Resumen: En este corto documento de ficció n, los lectores explorarán las experiencias de cuatro arqueó logos americanos mientras completan una excavació n arqueoló gica a la que le afectan las leyes a nivel local (Estado de Massachusetts) y a nivel nacional (EE.UU. federal) Los cuatro arqueó logos FORUM

Bulletin of the History of Archaeology, 2015

out to map these complex, modern social phenomena in new and informative ways. After briefly summ... more out to map these complex, modern social phenomena in new and informative ways. After briefly summarizing the theoretical concepts of Social Network Analysis and meshworks, I introduce two related concepts that I have formulated through my research: social terrain and social climate. Finally, I consider how these concepts inform, and are informed by, the social circles of two important characters within Massachusetts archaeology: Jeffries Wyman and Ross Moffett. Both men's professional lives illuminate complex social webs woven in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, which continue to affect present-day archaeologists as well.

North American Archaeologist, 2015

Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014