PARIS FRANKLIN; Culture Editor; franklpm@plu.edu
Homecoming was not the only event that brought people to campus on Oct. 15. Pacific Lutheran University’s Anthropology Club also drew visitors to the lower level of Xavier for a celebration of International Archaeology Day.
The club created informational poster boards, games and networking opportunities for those interested in archaeology. It is the first time that the club has celebrated the holiday as an official event for the public.
Holding an open event was the brainchild of current Anthropology Club co-presidents seniors Georgia Abrams and Emma Holm.
They were inspired to host more archaeological events during their presidency due to the fact they both have archaeological experience.
Additionally, many current members of the club are also interested in archaeology more than the three other subfields of anthropology (cultural, biological and linguistic) as past members have been.
“[Abrams and I] are both archaeology people versus the presidents of the past who have been more cultural, so doing things on that topic was of more interest of us,” Holm said.
“I wanted our little club to have the opportunity to participate in the larger global community of archaeology by having an International Archaeology Day Open House, which would also serve as a chance for people from outside the field to see what archaeology is really about — not digging up dinosaurs, but studying humanity and learning who we are and where we’ve come from,” Abrams said.
Eight members of the club were in attendance, as well as local archaeologists.
“It was really great to get this group of people together outside of the classroom or field setting so everyone could get to know each other better,” Abrams said.
“My favorite part was probably being able to connect with other archaeologists from the community and getting to have them come to campus and see the space that we do so much of our archaeological study in at PLU,” Holm said.
In addition to the games at the event, attendees were encouraged to dress as their favorite archaeologists. While some went the Indiana Jones route, others were a bit more creative.
Sophomore Ian Farrell dressed as Associate Professor Bradford Andrews and Visiting Assistant Professor Amanda Taylor dressed as Professor of Anthropology Dave Huelsbeck.
“We had some great archaeologist costumes and everyone seemed to have benefited from the chance to get to know some of those who are currently working in the field,” Abrams said.
Both Andrews and Taylor were in attendance, as well as Assistant Professor of Anthropology Jordan Levy.
“The fact that we had three professors there was a step in the right direction,” Holm commented.
She also notes that the event may be even bigger in coming years because the groundwork has been laid out for those who take over the club next year.
“We were going with nothing laid out yet, so we were creating everything, and so I think in the future it’ll be easier if the club decides to honor it again.”
She also mentioned that the games and the poster boards that the club created for the event will be easy to use for future Anthropology Club events.
Holm also hopes to honor days that are linked to other subfields of anthropology because “we’re an anthropology club, not an archaeology club.”
Holm and Abrams hope to continue involving professors and local professionals.
As far as celebration in coming years is concerned, “I think that this could definitely happen again in the future,” Holm said.
