Mentorship/Research Opportunity: How to prepare a zooarchaeological fish reference collection for use in archaeological research- Hands on learning about zooarchaeological protocols, proper storage methods, and data collection and databases.
Mentor Name: Philippa Jorissen
Mentor Email Address: pjorisse@uoregon.edu
Mentor’s Faculty Advisor: Madonna Moss
Research Subfield: Archaeology
Research Keywords:
Zooarchaeology- Data collection – Fish anatomy
Description of opportunity:
We will be preparing a newly assembled reference collection for use in zooarchaeological research by, labeling, taking measurements, collecting and compiling data in a database, and properly storing the specimens. These activities require that students are meticulous and are able to write small and legible.
Number of opportunities available: 2
Specific tasks involved:
The students and I will be handling and labeling reference fish specimens from a South Pacific collection and learn proper ways to store these specimens. We will be weighing whole specimens and taking measurements of specific bones, including vertebra, pharyngeal grinders, premaxillas and dentaries. For each specimen we will record which bones are absent. A database of the collected data will be compiled, analogically as well as digitally, with the later using Microsoft Excel software.
Professional development and or skills to be gained:
– A possibility to receive credits for hours of work completed.
– Familiarization with zooarchaeological protocols for curating a zooarchaeological collection, which includes learning: to handle specimens with care; different storage methods; labeling
methods; and to compile and sustain a logical analogue and digital database systems.
– Familiarization with anatomy of fish through hands on work with approximately 140 specimens
– Familiarization with a diverse array of tropical fish taxa from the South Pacific region, representing approximately 60 different species.
– Learning zooarchaeological protocols for taking bone measurements, which will be used to create formulas to predict, length and weight in archaeological specimens.
– Learning about the importance of taxonomy and different ways to organize a completed reference collection.
– A possibility to show your potential to participate in a follow up project during which we will start identification of archaeological specimens using this reference collection once data collection is completed.
Any certification, clearance, and/or previous training/experience required?
no
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