Grace Berzina

For my Senior Research Capstone, I used Paleopathology to analyze assigned (remote) skeletal remains to understand the individual's allostatic load and lesion morphology. Pathological interpretations pieced together a coherent life history, in which I was able to present my results and timeline of the individual to my peers and professor.

• Understanding of osteological and Anatomical terms
• Demonstration of proper bone and lesion identification
• Demonstration of age and sex estimation methods
• Understanding of osteological code of ethics of human skeletal analysis
• Worked both independently and collaboratively in a laboratory environment
• Gathered, arranged, and corrected research data to create representative visual highlighting results for presentations
• Collaborated with other researchers to develop successful research strategies
• Conducted applications of anthropological theory throughout research and yielded in results

The mission of the survey was to discover the coordinates of unmarked graves on the Appalachian State University campus in order to properly commemorate them. We recorded the coordinates and operated using ground-penetrating radar.

• Used strong interpersonal communication skills to convey information to others
• Represented organization positively and professionally while providing community with much-needed services
• Operated and assisted with survey machinery - Ground Penetrating Radar
• Collected data points and entered them manually into GPS system

The mission of this excavation was to excavate post Civil War era artifacts in future housing lots in Boone, North Carolina for the heritage community known as The Junaluska Community of Boone. The survey was conducted for 5 weeks. Four different lots within .5 mile radii recovered metal wire wrappings, a coin, glass shards, coal, oxidized soil stratigraphy, textiles, metal fragments, and ceramic sherds. Methods used in the field were shovel test pits and 1 x 1 unit squares. Artifacts were sifted through 1/4 in. screens on site. Artifacts were relocated to the Appalachian State archaeology lab for cleaning and analysis by the field students. The students were also given the opportunity to visit a professional survey happening in the area at that time done by the North Carolina Archaeological Society, allowing us to operate their ground penetrating radar in assist.

• Grid casting and coordinate building
• Understanding and demonstration of the Munsell Soil Color Book
• Identification of differential stratigraphic soil composition
• Understanding and demonstration of a Total Station Transit and Ground Penetrating Radar
• Personal usage of archaeological digging tools and methods - shovel test pits and 1 x 1 unit excavation squares
• Demonstration of artifact preservation and cleaning
• Team building and clear communication with my peers
• Artifact cleaning and analysis in the App Archaeology lab