My dissertation is on the Great Dismal Swamp, 112,000 acres in Virginia and North Carolina where communities of maroons (escaped slaves) lived from 1680 to 1860. The location is remote; a compass helps me get in and out.
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I love to go for long skis in the Maine woods, or down 16th Street or in Rock Creek Park when we have big storms here.
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The only stamps in my current passport are for South Africa but I almost ran out of pages in my previous one.
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GPS is handy for navigation and recording specific locations—although I can't always get a signal in the swamp.
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I enjoy knitting, although I've sworn off big projects until I finish my dissertation. A friend gave me these skull-shaped stitch markers to honor the discovery of Homo naledi, a new species of human relative, in South Africa in 2013. I was one of six female scientists who retrieved 1,500 bones and teeth from the site.
Before I got into archeology I led wilderness expeditions; I've always liked maps and learning about the landscape.
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A trowel is a basic archeological tool used for excavating evidence of what people were doing in the past.
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Even though only a few of the 20-plus species of snakes in the Dismal Swamp are venomous, I don't take any chances. I wear chaps for safety.
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There are lots of vines and thick vegetation in the swamp; a machete helps clear a path.
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Despite being called the Dismal Swamp, there are lots of animals and great views. I also photograph artifacts.
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You can only excavate something once; it's important to take careful field notes.
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I worked with the DC Public Library to 3D print some Homo naledi bones and swamp artifacts. Giving people something to hold in their hands brings my research to life.
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Measuring and recording where artifacts come from is very important.
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My bag was a gift from my uncle when I started my fieldwork. It says "swamp bound" to celebrate my work both in the Dismal Swamp and with Outward Bound.
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