Amanda G
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Stanford University
Expertise
Social and Environmental science - geology, archaeology, anthropology, environmental studies, history, languages (ancient - Greek, Latin, Akkadian, Sumerian; modern- French, German, Armenian)
Bio
I am an archaeologist. My research focuses on human-environment relationships in the ancient Mediterranean. My work provides the environmental context of history and culture and gives the environment an active role in how we understand the past. I work with interdisciplinary datasets, namely associated archaeological soils and architectural remains, primarily from Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus. I use techniques from geology to evaluate the environment in the archaeological record and interpret human-environment relationships, disaster, resilience, and societal development over the short- and long-terms. I also enjoy sports like surfing, running, and playing soccer.Project ideas
Documenting past society through a single object
For this project, the student would visit a local museum and choose one object that is on display (e.g. a tool, art piece). Beginning with the museum archives, the student will document basic facts on the object: date, location of origin, description of object (size, color, shape, basic function), and how the object came to the museum. Using the local library and online sources, the student would carry out a deeper history on the object to understand its cultural context and life history. The student will situate this object within the broader society and culture at the time of its use. As a final outcome of the project, the student will provide their new research to the museum to keep in the museum's archives or to add to the museum display. Furthermore, the student could publish their results in a school or local paper or journal. This project could also be expanded into a larger project on the site or environment of the object's origin or on other associated objects to further reconstruct the culture and society in question.