Specialized Resources
Moriah McKenna is still amazed by the extent of the student-faculty relationship at Conn, especially since it’s what landed her in Illinois this summer as a National Science Foundation (NSF)- sponsored fellow.
Currently working with Anthony Graesch, associate professor of anthropology and her faculty adviser, to design original environmental archaeological research, McKenna learned about the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates fellowship on the Lawrenz Gun Club archaeological site from Graesch.
“He actually emailed me the program application and helped me navigate my way through every aspect of it,” McKenna said. Within a week of applying, McKenna was accepted. With a $4,000 stipend, all travel expenses paid and Graesch’s enthusiastic encouragement, she headed west to the central Illinois River Valley to study Mississippian-era Native American life at the Lawrenz Gun Club last summer.
“This site is of particular interest to Midwestern archaeology because of the long time span of occupation and the earthen mounds, fortifications—including walls and bastions—and numerous structures that have been found on the site through excavation and survey,” McKenna explained.
As part of the program, McKenna joined several other selected students from across the country at the site. Together they learned crucial archaeological methodology, techniques, instrumentation, data management and research design, as well as excavation procedure and proper preparation of artifacts.
“My research involves comparing the botanical remains we found at Lawrenz to other sites in the region in order to understand subsistence strategies in different locations with varying forms of political and climate stress,” McKenna explained.
Fellow scholars in the field had the chance to learn about her research when she presented her findings in the form of a poster at the Midwest Archaeological 25 Conference in Wisconsin.
“Connecticut College prepared me very well for this experience, and I am thrilled to have such a comprehensive understanding of archaeology as a result of both my studies at Conn and my practical work in the field,” she said. “This experience has confirmed for me that archaeology is an academic field I would like to pursue as a potential career.”
As for the journey to this point, McKenna credits Graesch. “I would not have known about this amazing research opportunity if Professor Graesch did not think to email me about it,” she said. “He is a wonderful teacher and mentor, and I look forward to applying my experiences this past summer to our research addressing patterned land use and ecological impacts of colonial farmsteads in the Arboretum.”