What's That Bone? The Sphenoid.

This is a sphenoid.

This was the first bone I came across while working in the lab. Now, after several months of consistent analysis, it's a pretty easy bone to pick out. Even when it's broken in several pieces. However, I remember when I first encountered with, myself and the other undergraduates - they were also more experienced, may I add - I was working with, took nearly 30 minutes to finally agree that this was a sphenoid bone.

Now you're probably wondering where this bone - that is oddly shaped like a moth - goes. It is actually part of the skull, and to be more specific, it sits right behind your eye orbits (where your eyes are). I actually found a really good picture that can demonstrate this.

Most often - especially when the skulls are not in complete condition, the sphenoid is broken, but it's unique shape makes it pretty easy to pick out. When the sphenoid is complete, myself - as well as others - usually take a minute to appreciate it, because it really is a pretty bone. It's kind of like in that movie, "The Land Before Time" when Littlefoot finds a tree star, and they all just marvel at it.

So that's the sphenoid. It's a lesser-known bone that I find to be one of the more interesting ones in the human body. Next Friday I will discuss another bone - but you'll have to check in if you want to find out which one it is.

What I do ...

So, one of the first things that non-anthropology people ask me is: What do you do?

Well, there are two ways that I can answer this question. First, I think I should clarify what I would do as a bioarchaeologist. Basically, I want to study human skeletal remains within an archaeological context. In particular to my interests, I would like to do research within a historical context as well so that I can use written evidence to supplement my research.

By studying human skeletal remains, bioarchaeologists can find out all sorts of things like evidence of nutrition and malnutrition, social standing (in terms of mortuary context), and changes within the population over time, along with others. So basically, when I grow up I want to study the human past by analyzing human skeletal remains and supplementing my research with historical evidence. (It's going to be awesome!)

Now the second way to answer the question is to point out what I do as an undergraduate that can help me achieve this goal. Well, like any person who wants to do research in a competitive field, I can not  just go to class. I have to do other stuff as well. I'm part of the undergraduate anthropology club on campus, in which we have guest speakers who give guest lectures about their research. We also do other events like going to the museum on Darwin Day, and information panels with graduate students I also get to meet other anthropologists, and not just physical anthropology students either.

One of the biggest opportunities that I have had as an undergraduate is working in the bioarchaeology lab on campus. As a volunteer, I spend about 7 - 10 hours every week assisting a graduate student with her dissertation research. I lay out skeletons, put them away, do inventory of the bones, epiphyseal union, and measurements of the bones. I have also had the chance to do some dental analysis, but I still do that with the help of a more experienced graduate student. 

I also go to brown bags and dissertation proposals and defenses. The information is always really interesting, but going to these types of informational events are also helpful because I can learn what is expected as different stages of the dissertation process. They also help me understand how to present research, which has already come in handy.

So, when it comes down to it, the one thing that I do not do is just go to class. Even if I'm not a professional, I can say with confidence that if you want to be a bioarchaeologist, you can't just go to lecture classes - or even discussion ones - and expect to have enough experience. You have to do things, get involved in the department and network. It sounds like a lot of extra work - and to be honest, it is, but the experience is so worth it.

Plus, if you really want to be a bioarchaeologist, chances are you don't want to sit in 200-person classes and you do want to get out in the field and do stuff. So it all works out anyway.

So it begins ... sort of.

So this is my first post of a blog whose goal is to inform the public about my life as a college student who is super interested in bioarchaeology. As I mentioned in my "Welcome" section (look to the left) - I am not a professional bioarchaeologist. Thus, please don't take this blog as a "how-to" guide on how to become a professional in the field of anthropology. (I still haven't figured that out yet. That's what college advisors and professors are for)

A little about me: I'm a history and anthropology junior at Michigan State University. I was originally just a history major with only a minor in anthropology, but last semester I was given the amazing opportunity to volunteer and help a graduate student in a bioarchaeology lab on campus. I was immediately hooked because it's literally physical evidence of history. I'm a total history nerd, and the fact that I was learning about the past through human remains was super intriguing, I decided to use my extra credits I needed for my degree to get a double major in history and anthropology. When I graduate I'm planning on going to graduate school for physical anthropology with a focus in bioarchaeology so that I can incorporate my history skills into the field.

This website is going to have a lot of different types of information about bioarchaeology, and archaeology in general. There will be pictures, stories about my day, my plans for the future, articles, what I'm learning in class, etc. If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a note! Thanks!