- Archaeology and Osteology Labs - Dr. S. Homes Hogue, analyzing animal bone in the Osteology Laboratory at Mississippi State University. Archaeological materials are brought to the Cobb Institute from contract projects conducted by the research associates and their field technicians (usually students) and from field schools. Typical field methods include water-screening the soil from excavation units through 1/4 inch mesh screen and through 1/16 inch mesh screen. Snails for environmental analysis are typically recovered from such fine mesh. Employment is available throughout the semester at the Cobb processing the artifacts and ecofacts recovered from fieldwork. Students can increase their chances of obtaining these jobs by taking field school and by volunteering. There are excellent opportunities to explore archaeology and biological anthropology hands-on at the Cobb Institute of Archaeology. - Bioarchaeology - Bioarchaeologists use skeletal remains recovered from archaeological sites to test hypothesis and draw inferences about health, diet and nutrition, disease, demography, and behaviors. Below is a photo of a molar surface magnified 500 times. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) located on campus (www.msstate.edu/dept/emc/ ) was used to enlarge and record the enamel surface. At this magnification, pits and scratches, known as microwear features, can be observed. The frequencies of these features are used to understand the types of foods consumed. Scratches are associated with soft foods such as maize while pits result from eating hard foods like nuts. This method is useful for understanding how diets change though time. In addition Dr. Hogue has used this method to compare protohistoric human and dog microwear features to document similarities in diet between the two species.

Inside one of the archaeology labs. Computers are available for archaeological lab use as well as anthropology student use. Washing and drying are done outside of these labs, and artifacts and ecofacts are separated, catalogued, and analyzed here.

Inside the osteology lab. Pottery has been placed on the table for reconstruction, vessel count, and analysis.

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Last modified Monday, 05-Feb-2001 12:10:59 CST.