Latin America has historically been impacted by the colonization of their lands. Mexico has recently been in the spotlight of foreigners regarding gentrification on native lands. This study analyzes the use of the Techialoyan Codexes around the late 16-17th century to document the land of indigenous communities throughout central Mexico. The project analyzed the Codex of Cuajimalpa on material, language, and imagery to document the basis for indigenous people to make legal claims to their respective lands during Spanish colonization. Working with the Nahuatl language and examining indigenous imagery. Findings suggest major changes in native experience during colonization. Examining the Techialoyan Codex of Cuajimalpa provides a broader insight into the changes the Spanish brought with them and paints a larger picture of what had happened and is happening in Mexico due to outsiders.

The Troubles in Ireland (1969–1998) was a prolonged period of conflict rooted in British colonial rule, religious divide, and socio-political oppression. This study examines the role of unsanctioned violence during the Troubles, with a particular focus on the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and its responses to systemic persecution. Using a comparative historical approach, the research analyzes political events, firsthand accounts, and cultural artifacts, such as music and art, to explore how paramilitary violence shaped national identity. Findings reveal three key themes: the cyclical nature of violence driven by state-perpetrated and retaliatory attacks, the role of cultural narratives in legitimizing resistance, and the long-term effects of trauma on reconciliation efforts. The study concludes that unsanctioned violence not only intensified sectarian divisions but also became a central factor in shaping collective memory. Understanding these dynamics emphasizes the challenges of post-conflict reconciliation and the lasting cultural imprint of historical trauma.

Archeological sites of cultural significance are often directly related to the cultural identities and oral histories of Indigenous people. By observing how oral history is connected to physical sites, research suggests there are substantial connections to specific variations in Aboriginal language, cultural expressions, and historical records, as well as present-day identity, across the continent. Further, this study argues that the destruction of these sites leads to modern-day negative psychological, social, and linguistic repercussions on Aboriginal people and further loss of cultural identity. Additionally, because of historical and modern homogenization of Aboriginal culture, geographical and regional research is necessary for the discussion of cultural significance. These sites are essential to the religions and cultures of Aboriginal peoples and their conservation is crucial to their well-being. The preservation and celebration of these sites are integral to the continuation of Aboriginal culture.

New Jersey’s archaeological resources are under-studied and under-published, especially in regards to its pre- and post-colonial past. This fact remains even more true for archaeological resources in Southern New Jersey, where indigenous residents have few resources for learning about their own cultural history. The Steinhart Collection at the Museum of Anthropology at Rowan University is primarily made up of archaeological material found throughout Southern New Jersey. By conducting a comparative analysis of the archaeological material in the Steinhart Collection with published archaeological findings in Northern and Central New Jersey, the author creates a typology, a timeline, and a map showing the geographic spread and concentrations of the collection’s material to better understand Southern New Jersey’s indigenous past. The author correlates these findings with ethnographic interviews conducted with members of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape to learn their understanding of their ancestral past.

The “curation crisis” is a persistent concern for archaeological repositories and research institutions. This poster discusses a nested set of strategies for dealing with legacy collections: integrating curation training earlier in students’ education and fostering reciprocal relationships between repositories and undergraduate institutions. Introducing curation methods and ethics in the context of hands-on experiences at the undergraduate level brings needed attention to persistent curation issues while equipping them with marketable skills. Reciprocal collaborations between repositories and academic institutions offer a practical solution: repositories loan collections for training students in materials identification, classification, cataloging, and proper storage. In return, collections are returned to repositories in improved condition, meeting federal curatorial standards. We discuss such a relationship between Connecticut College and the Connecticut Office of State Archaeology while highlighting ongoing curatorial work with legacy collections generated during the salvage investigation of the Terry House, a 19th century residence in Enfield.

Due to its symbolic significance, faience- a vibrant, glazed ceramic material- was widely used in Ancient Egypt for amulets, jewelry, and funerary goods for personal protection. Many faience artifacts displayed in museums today were taken by invading corpses in the process of excavating tombs, raising ethical concerns about the removal of burial objects. This research explores the potential of recreating Egyptian faience using accurate materials as a less invasive ethical alternative to grave looting. Using experimental archaeological methods, modern recreations of amulets and jewelry pieces are produced, demonstrating that contemporary techniques can accurately replicate period accurate ancient artifacts. The findings bring modern and educational features to museum displays, ultimately promoting displays of high-quality replicas instead of grave goods. This project will discuss the importance of balancing preservation with ethical responsibility, offering a solution to this longstanding museum issue.

Quartz was a common source of toolstone in the pre-colonial Northeast and beyond. However, quartz presents a unique set of challenges with respect to identifying diagnostic characteristics of flakes and other artifacts expected of lithic production sequences. This poster presents preliminary findings from an analysis of a quartz assemblage documented at CC22, an Indigenous habitation site located on the waterfront in New London, CT. Drawing on previous experimental archaeological research, we make a case for localized and recurring tool production. Findings are presented in the context of other archaeological and geophysical data to suggest that CC22 was a large settlement occupied prior and likely concurrent with English colonization. Ongoing, collaborative conservation efforts are discussed.

For my research I conducted craniometric analysis on human skulls. Craniometrics, the measurement of specific points and dimensions on the skull, provides valuable data for identifying key anatomical landmarks, which are crucial for classifying biological sex and ethnic origin. By recording and analyzing the metric dimensions of the cranium, I was able to conclude inferences about human variation in relation to sex and ethnicity. This method enables a detailed examination of the morphological traits of the skull, allowing for a deeper understanding of how these traits can differ across populations. The measurements collected from nine different crania helps to understand patterns of variation in craniometric features. This approach not only enhances the ability to classify individuals based on sex and ethnicity but also contributes to broader anthropological research on human diversity, evolutionary trends, and population history.

This study examines the challenges faced by female English teachers in public institutions in Dakar and the resilience strategies they have developed. Twenty teachers participated in a capacity-building workshop designed to help them express their challenges and propose solutions. The findings reveal four key categories of challenges: socio-cultural and familial, pedagogical and academic, administrative and financial, and issues related to the school environment. Teachers' recommendations include enhancing their pedagogical, academic, and professional capacities, providing adequate teaching materials and tools, creating a conducive work environment, and promoting female leadership within schools. They also advocate for addressing the specific needs of women and girls, such as access to childcare, toilets, social assistance, and medical services. Additionally, they suggest extending maternity leave, offering flexible hours for breastfeeding women, providing financial and career incentives, and implementing participatory management in schools to foster a more inclusive and supportive educational environment.

Museums play a critical role in sharing cultural heritage, often drawing on archaeological research to inform exhibits. However, archaeologically derived mortuary information requires careful ethical consideration, particularly given the colonial history of archaeological practice. In North America, studies of human remains are widely regarded as unethical and disrespectful owing to a history of excavating Indigenous ancestors without consent. Elsewhere, mortuary curation continues, requiring museums to navigate exhibition strategies with sensitivity and stakeholder collaboration. To best perform these tasks, mortuary exhibits should not just contextualize burial findings but explain the methods of study which inform those findings; spatial and temporal context should be central to exhibition narratives. Recreation exhibits, such as the Royal Tomb of Sipán, offer one model for representing mortuary sites while maintaining ethical responsibility. By integrating excavation methods and interpretation, museums can enhance public understanding while ensuring a respectful and informed representation of the past.

This project explores the intersection of biomedicine, race, and historical imaginaries through the commodification of sperm and the production of whiteness in contemporary reproductive technologies. Focusing on the phenomenon of "Viking sperm"—sperm donated by white Scandinavian men, which has become a highly valued commodity in sperm banks—this study interrogates the ways in which the image of the Viking, as a symbol of strength and ruthlessness, is utilized to construct and perpetuate an "ideal" racialized population. Through a medical anthropological lens, we examine how the historical narrative of Vikings, shaped by popular culture and historical discourse, is harnessed to support and reproduce notions of racial purity and superiority.