While most Hamilton researchers spent their summer in the Science Center, Lisa Fontes '09 (West Danville, Vt.) traveled to the Nevada desert to work on her research project. Fontes and 12 other Hamilton students participated in the College's 2007 Archaeological Field School, which was located about 35 miles from Ely, Nevada. For six weeks, the group studied sites in the central Great Basin, focusing on areas inhabited by Paleoindians 8,000 to 11,000 years ago. They investigated land use, mobility patterns, subsistence strategies, and other aspects of the lifestyle and cultural ecology of early Great Basin people.
In the context of this research, the field school taught students about various archeological techniques used in field studies, such as surveying, excavation, mapping, and systematic collection. Fontes, an archaeology major who plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in the subject, says she greatly enjoyed her experience because it taught her the field methods and skills she will need as an archaeologist, allowed her to put into practice the concepts she learned in class, and gave her the chance to see if archaeology is something she would like to pursue as a career.
When field school ended, Fontes returned to Hamilton and spent four weeks doing laboratory research in the Science Center. She analyzed artifacts and source rocks that were collected from sites in Nevada and Utah using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The results of these experiments allowed her to compare the geochemical compositions of the artifacts and the source rocks so that she could evaluate how far the artifacts were taken from the source material collection areas.
Using this data, Fontes will be able to see how Paleoindian populations moved throughout the area. She especially wants to see if the provenance of artifacts in Coal Valley, a site in southern Nevada, is similar to those of artifacts found in Jakes and Long Valleys in northern Nevada. This would indicate that the subsistence pattern of northeastern Nevada Paleoindians extended further south than previously believed.
When not excavating artifacts in the sweltering desert, Fontes finds time to participate in many organizations on campus. She is the Head Resident Advisor (HRA) on the Southside of campus, co-chair of the Rainbow Alliance, and a member of the Womyn's Center. Fontes is also involved in the Hamilton Outing Club (HOC). Her research advisor is Charlotte Beck, professor of anthropology. This is Fontes' first year of summer research.
-- by Nick Berry '09
In the context of this research, the field school taught students about various archeological techniques used in field studies, such as surveying, excavation, mapping, and systematic collection. Fontes, an archaeology major who plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in the subject, says she greatly enjoyed her experience because it taught her the field methods and skills she will need as an archaeologist, allowed her to put into practice the concepts she learned in class, and gave her the chance to see if archaeology is something she would like to pursue as a career.
When field school ended, Fontes returned to Hamilton and spent four weeks doing laboratory research in the Science Center. She analyzed artifacts and source rocks that were collected from sites in Nevada and Utah using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The results of these experiments allowed her to compare the geochemical compositions of the artifacts and the source rocks so that she could evaluate how far the artifacts were taken from the source material collection areas.
Using this data, Fontes will be able to see how Paleoindian populations moved throughout the area. She especially wants to see if the provenance of artifacts in Coal Valley, a site in southern Nevada, is similar to those of artifacts found in Jakes and Long Valleys in northern Nevada. This would indicate that the subsistence pattern of northeastern Nevada Paleoindians extended further south than previously believed.
When not excavating artifacts in the sweltering desert, Fontes finds time to participate in many organizations on campus. She is the Head Resident Advisor (HRA) on the Southside of campus, co-chair of the Rainbow Alliance, and a member of the Womyn's Center. Fontes is also involved in the Hamilton Outing Club (HOC). Her research advisor is Charlotte Beck, professor of anthropology. This is Fontes' first year of summer research.
-- by Nick Berry '09
