Monthly Archives: October 2025

Happy Halloween!

by ec002

This week’s post will be a little spooky, so consider yourself warned! (Disclaimer: There will be an image of human remains.) 

Imagine it’s a snowy winter night in your medieval village. For weeks you and the rest of the town have been living in terror, afraid that one of you will be the next person taken and killed in the night. But this morning a group of townspeople confronted a man in the village who everyone suspected to be a vampire. You’re following the torchlight of your father as he and the other men head into the forest, carrying the body of the killer. The men begin digging and place the dead body in the hole. To ensure he doesn’t rise again and kill more people, they place sickles across his neck so his head will be cut off if he wakes. They cover the body and pray this is the end of the nightmare you all have been living in.  

While that may sound a little silly to a 21st century reader, this was the reality for many people in the Middle Ages in Europe, especially in Slavic countries. There are many examples of so-called “vampire burials” across Europe that have been found in archaeological surveys. “Vampire burials” refer to any internment where the living were trying to stop the dead from rising again; it does not mean in every instance people believed they were burying a vampire.  

A skeleton with a sickle over its neck unearthed in Poland.
Source: Slavia Field School in Archaeology

People truly believed their lives were at stake if they did not stop evil people from rising again. There were various ways to ensure this. Some common examples include placing a sickle over the neck, putting padlocks on appendages, staking down the body, cutting off the head and placing it out of reach, placing iron or rocks in the mouth, burying the body face-down, or a combination of these. Males, females, and children have been found in vampire burials.

Some of the vampire burials are people who had diseases that would have made them stand out in their community, such as rickets, scurvy, and tuberculosis. Bioarchaeologists can study the remains of the deceased to understand more about their life, but all archaeologists should consider what these burials meant to the living. Why were beliefs that the dead could rise again so prevalent? Who decided which people were a danger after death? If you see a vampire on Halloween, consider these questions and remember our complex human past.

Happy Halloween!

Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences at IUP

LGBTQ History Month

by ec002

Happy national LGBTQ history month! In this blog I’ll be discussing queer archaeology. 

While perhaps not a (yet!) common theoretical lens studied in archaeology courses, queer archaeology has been around for a while and is here to stay. In this post I will provide a short explanation of what queer archaeology is and then post a long list of resources! Even if you’ve never read queer theory before, opening your mind to new perspectives is always a good thing.  

The main focus of queer archaeology is to challenge normative views of the past. It does not seek the origin of homosexuality or different gender identities, but rather it encourages us to take a critical view of the past and not fall into binary thinking. Queer archaeology is related to feminist archaeology, gender archaeology, and transgender archaeology. Queer theory is used in archaeological studies throughout the world.  

Queer archaeology is important because it teaches us to reconsider our biases. For example, bioarchaeologists often determine the probable sex of a set of human remains in their studies. While an individual may fit physically into the gender binary, their lived experience may not have matched up with what their bones show. Many cultures had a spectrum of gender identities before they were colonized by Europeans; if we study those cultures through a Eurocentric view, we will miss many important aspects of those people’s lives. It is also important to not project modern biases onto past groups of people, and using queer theory helps to ensure that.  

Queer people have always existed and still do. Their stories and history are just as important as every other human being, and they deserve to be studied with the same respect as any other group of people. Please explore the links below, whether you are a queer archaeologist, an ally, or are just starting to learn about queer archaeology.   

The websites have information about queer archaeology theory, LGBTQ archaeology groups, the methods of how queer archaeology is done, and case studies.  

https://queerarchaeology.com/ An overview of all things queer archaeology! The link below is from the same website, but from the bibliography page.  

https://queerarchaeology.com/resources/information-about-queer-archaeology/. This source has links to three queer archaeology organizations and a plethora of articles and books that discuss sexuality, gender, and case studies in queer archaeology.  

https://www.saa.org/quick-nav/about-saa/interest-groups . There is a Queer Archaeology Interest Group within the SAA; click the link to learn more!  

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/archaeology-classics-and-egyptology/blog/2022/normalising-queer-representation-in-archaeology/. This is a blog post from a student at the University of Liverpool. 

https://core.tdar.org/collection/29516/queering-the-field-archaeologies-of-sexuality-gender-and-beyond. Resources from the SAA meeting in 2015.   

 

Department of Anthropology, Geospatial, and Earth Sciences at IUP

Recap of Community Archaeology Day

by ec002

Hi everyone! Last Saturday (10/11) the IUP Anthropology Department hosted our annual community archaeology day. Graduate (and a few undergrad) students ran tables/stations, and outside groups came, too.

On the lawn outside of McElhaney Hall we had a geoarchaeology table, a flintknapping demonstration, a mock excavation, atatl throwing, and members of the Westmoreland archaeology society.

Grad students manning the geoarch table.

Representatives from the World Atlatl Association teaching visitors how to throw spears!

Flintknapper and archaeologist Susanne Haney giving a demonstration.

Kids screening for artifacts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside, there was another table from the Westmoreland Archaeological Society with various kinds of projectile points and lithic materials. Other tables covered topics including an interactive slideshow about Native Americans (see previous blog post), information about thesis work, zooarchaeology, hominids, PHAST, DHRT, and flotation.

Members of this summer’s DHRT team.

3D printed Clovis points!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second year graduate student Ryan Devanny showing a visitor some bones from the teaching collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kidz room was a lot of fun for all ages. Visitors enjoyed making pottery, braiding wampum, identifying artifacts, piecing together ceramics, and making cave paintings.

Wampum beading.

Pottery making.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you missed out this time, don’t worry because this amazing event happens every October! We hope to see you next year.

 

Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences at IUP

Native Voices: Still Here, Always Here

by ec002
This post has been prepared by second-year graduate student Jennifer Kennedy.
Native American communities have always been here. Their histories, traditions, and languages are deeply rooted in this land, and their stories continue to be shared. Even today, their voices are living, breathing, and thriving in ways that we all can experience.
One of the most powerful ways we can listen and learn is through the creativity of Native storytellers. Books by Indigenous authors share rich narratives that challenge stereotypes and celebrate identity. Podcasts bring Native perspectives into our daily lives, offering humor, insight, and truth. Music carries Native experiences in a variety of genres that include both contemporary, traditional Indigenous, and a blend of the two. Movies and TV shows work in consultation with tribes and highlight Indigenous actors, writers, and directors, creating authentic stories that resonate far beyond Native communities. Indigenous artists continue to inspire with vibrant works that honor tradition while speaking to the present moment in mediums beyond canvas and sculpture such as through fashion, comic books, and even animation and video games.  You’ve likely encountered such exposure without even realizing it.
When we engage with Native creators through mediums like these, we recognize that they are not extinct relics of history-they are our teachers, our fellow artists, our neighbors, and are community. Their voices remind us that Native nations have always been here, and always will be.
The IUP Annual Archaeology Open House on October 11th includes an interactive display that allows you to explore and experience Native American voices in books, podcasts, music, movies, TV, and art. Maybe you’ll even find a new favorite! To explore more beyond this interactive display simply download the PowerPoint presentation from the display or a PDF version of it below: Click here for the PowerPoint!
Click here for the PDF version!
Also, as a bonus, check out this amazing Native American Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Cookbook full of great recipes for snacks and meals of all types. Click here for the FDPIRCookbook!
Anthropology Department Land Acknowledgement:
We acknowledge that this land has long served as a site of meeting and exchange among Indigenous peoples, including the Erie, Iroquois, Lenape, Munsee, Osage, Shawnee, and the Susquehannock tribal nations. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this place, and honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land. This land was primarily Osage and Iroquois, who call themselves Haudenosaunee. The Allegheny also claimed this territory as their southern hunting lands. Additionally, the Delaware inhabited what is today Indiana County because they were pushed here through violence by the white settlers. Finally, there is the ancient Monongahela culture that is known primarily through archeological record. We join in acknowledging the elders, both past and present, as well as future generations of the Native people who are the rightful heirs to this land. We acknowledge that this place was founded upon exclusion and erasures of many Indigenous peoples. This acknowledgement demonstrates the commitment to continuing the process of working to dismantle the ongoing legacy of settler colonialism. We acknowledge our responsibility of work for equity, justice, and reparations for Native peoples of this land and all the Americas.

IUP Forensic Archaeology Field School

by ec002

This week’s post was written by first-year graduate student Sofia Arias about her summer work with IUP.

Pretty drive to the site.

This summer, I was able to be a Graduate Assistant for the Field school in Germany in partner with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to help identify missing in action WWII soldiers. This experience allowed me the opportunity to see what it is like to lead a crew one day as well as learn new methods in general. Methods on the site included test units, shovel test pits, ground penetrating radar (GPR), total station, pedestrian surveys and artifact cleaning/analysis.

Sofia and Ella (another GA) on site.

A typical workday for us was getting up at 6 am, going to breakfast at 6:30 am then leaving to go to the field by 7 am. Being able to work at the site was so beautiful with the huge trees and birds singing all day. Around noon we would eat lunch for about 45 mins. I have never eaten so many PB&J’s than I did on this trip! On some hot days, the local historian/archaeologist Andi would bring us Radlers chilled in the nearby creek. We’d wrap up the workday around 4:30 pm then head back to the town. We would all get back, shower than group up to go get food in the town. It was such a small town we would usually all see each other during the evening. After dinner, it was more than likely you’d end your night with ice cream from the parlor down the street. This was the usual routine everyday Monday through Friday.

This was my first time out of the country which was exciting. Being immersed in another culture across the world was so amazing to experience. The group of students were very fun to be around and go on excursions with. Some of the weekend trips we did include going to Heidelberg, Rothenburg, doing a cave tour and brewery tour.  My favorite part of this trip was seeing all the architecture and nature in Germany. I’m so thankful for this opportunity—I learned a ton about leading fieldwork and got to work with some awesome people along the way.

Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences at IUP