News
Two Archaeology Graduates Highlighted at Fall 2024 Convocation
Dr. Ujunwa (Uju) Rita Onah and Heather Tough, two recent Memorial Archaeology graduates, were highlighted in the Fall 2024 Convocation by the Gazette.
Dr. Ujunwa (Uju) Rita Onah earned her PhD in Archaeology and Heather Tough earned her Bachelor of Arts (Honours & Co-op) in Archaeology and Anthropology during the Fall 2024 Convocation.
Check out more about Dr. Ujunwa (Uju) Rita Onah's work on the Gazette's website.
Check out more about Heather Tough's motivation on the Gazette's website.
New Archaeology Winter 2025 Offering: Archaeology of Pollution
The Department of Archaeology is happy to announce a new course offering for Winter 2025: ARCH 3685: Archaeology of Pollution, with Dr. Natasha Leclerc, NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow & Adjunct Professor, Department of Archaeology.
Check out the poster below for more information!
Ad Poster for Archaeology of Pollution (Winter 2025) [PDF]
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Upcoming Conference: Cultural Explorations: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Humanity
Jamming Disciplines Colloquia is proud to present an upcoming graduate student conference opportunity, titled: Cultural Explorations: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Humanity.
The Cultural Explorations Conference Planning Committee is welcoming abstracts from Memorial University graduate students in the area of cultural studies to present a poster or presentation (or both) at the upcoming conference.
This event is hosted by the Departments of Anthropology, Archaeology, & Folklore, but is open to graduate students in any Memorial Faculty/Department/School whose research intersects with cultural studies.
We also welcome submissions for the poster session from undergraduate students, just kindly reach out to Jordan with your poster idea to ensure it fits our conference format.
Any inquiries or submissions can be made to Jordan Hollahan at jdvhollahan@mun.ca.
Important Dates & Locations:
- Conference Date: Tues., Nov. 26, 2024: 10 am to 5 pm
- Conference Location: Queen’s College (Presentations 10-3 pm in QC 4028 & Posters 3-5 pm in the Great Hall)
- Submission Deadline: Fri., Oct. 25, 2024, by 11:59 pm
Presentation & Poster Submission Requirements:
- Abstract: 250 to 500 words, describing your research or area of interest for the poster / presentation (we want to know what you want to present).
- Bio: 50 to 100 words, describing yourself as a graduate student.
Considerations:
- Poster dimensions: 48 inches (width) by 36 inches (height)
- Virtual presentations are available.
- Presentations will be 10 - 15 minutes long.
RCAF Liberator Bomber Wreck: Control Box in Archaeology Department for Cleaning & Preservation
On Sunday, Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland and Labrador divers Neil Burgess and Chris Power dived down 135 feet deep in Gander Lake to the RCAF Liberator bomber wreck.
The bomber crashed on take-off from Gander Airport in Sept 1943, killing all four of the RCAF crew aboard. Neil and Chris were able to recover the bomb release interval control box used by the bombardier.
The control box is now at the Department's Archaeological Conservation Lab getting cleaned and preserved by Donna Teasdale, Archaeological Conservator, Department of Archaeology.
After that is done, it will go to the North Atlantic Aviation Museum in Gander for display to the public. We hope it will help tell the story of the service and sacrifice of these four brave airmen.
Upcoming International Symposium: Archaeological Perspectives on Longhouses
The Department of Archaeology is hosting a 2-day international symposium, where scholars from around the world will explore archaeological perspectives on longhouses in a wide range of research contexts, including the Canadian Arctic, Upper Mississippi, Pacific Northwest, and Central Europe.
Dates/Times:
- Thursday, September 26, 2024: 10 am - 3:30 pm
- Friday, September 27, 2024: 10:30 am - 4 pm
Location:
- Room 2013, Queen's College, Memorial University
Schedule:
For more information, please contact Dr. Lisa Rankin (lrankin@mun.ca) or Dr. Peter Ramsden (ramsden@mcmaster.ca).
Recent Archaeology PhD Graduate, Dr. Rita Onah, New Book Chapter!
Recent PhD graduate from the Department of Archaeology, Dr. Rita Onah, has a new book chapter. Dr. Onah's chapter is Chapter 31, titled: "Being 'Indigenous' Is Weird" in Working as Indigenous Archaeologists (2024; George Nicholas & Joe Watkins, Editors).
Check it out on the Taylor & Francis Group (Publisher) website.
Congratulations, Dr. Onah!
New Course Offering for Fall 2024: ARCH 3684 - Cultural Heritage in Conflict and Crisis
There is a new course being offered for the Fall 2024 semester: ARCH 3684 - Cultural Heritage in Conflict and Crisis. This course is being taught by Dr. Shannon Lewis-Simpson (in-person) in slot 12 (12:30-1:45pm, Monday and Wednesday, QC2013).
ARCH 3684 - Cultural Heritage in Conflict and Crisis: introduces how cultural heritage is affected by conflict and crisis. We will discuss the concept of cultural heritage protection and its practice by heritage actors such as UNESCO, the Blue Shield, ICCROM, and military professionals. The course will also consider the weaponization of cultural heritage and heritage narratives, and how this contributes to further insecurity. Students will understand how cultural heritage management can both contribute to and mitigate insecurity in conflict and crisis.
Students are able to register for this new offering using MUN Self-Serve, where this course will be listed as "ARCH 3684: Studies in Archaeology and Prehistory."
Dr. Lisa Rankin, Professor of Archaeology, Wins Smith-Wintemberg Award!
Congratulations to Dr. Lisa Rankin, MUNL Archaeology Department, who was recently awarded the Smith-Wintemberg Award by the Canadian Archaeological Association/Association Canadienne d'Archéologie
The Smith-Wintemberg Award is the association's highest honour and is presented to professional members of the Canadian archaeological community who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the discipline of archaeology and our knowledge of the archaeological past of Canada.
The award recognized Dr. Rankin's contributions to our understanding of the history of Labrador and to the broader processes of colonialism, her strong partnerships with Indigenous communities, government agencies and fellow researchers internationally, and her mentorship and training of the next generation of Canadian archaeologists.
She is the second faculty member from the Department of Archaeology to receive this award following Dr. Jim Tuck in 2009.
Archaeology PhD Candidate Robyn Lacy's Upcoming Book
Check out Robyn Lacy's (PhD Candidate, Archaeology) upcoming book:
Daisy Wheel, Hexfoil, Hexafoil, Rosette: Protective Marks in Gravestone Art.
Description: The use of protective symbols, also known as apotropaic marks, are often part of folk magic traditions, appearing in homes, churches, on personal items, and even graves, across Europe, Australia, and North America. The most common and well-known of these marks is the hexfoil, otherwise known as the daisy wheel, witch hex, or rosette. Hexfoils have a history of use for personal protection and were carved both intentionally or graffitied into church pews and walls, bed frames, doors, and gravestones. This research sheds light on the use of this historic symbol to protect the bodies and souls of the deceased, across several thousand years and multiple countries.
Order directly from the publisher, Berghahn Books.
Student Heather Tough Wins 2024 Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Undergraduate Research Paper
Congratulations to Archaeology student Heather Tough on receiving the Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for the winning essay titled ‘Battles in the Cemetery: Power Structures Acting Upon African-American Mortuary Landscapes in the United States’!
Well done, Heather!
Job Talk by Bryn Tapper (Tues., Apr. 2, 2024)
The Dept. of Archaeology is hosting a job talk by Bryn Tapper on Tues., Apr. 2, 2024, starting at 4 pm in QC 2013, as part of the Department's Maritime Archaeology Job Search. Members of the department (undergraduate students, graduate students, etc.), stakeholders, and members of the public are welcome to attend. For more information on Samantha's presentation, please see the poster below.
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Job Talk Poster (Bryn Tapper) Tues., Apr. 2, 2024
Job Talk by Samantha Walker (Wed., Mar. 27, 2024)
The Dept. of Archaeology is hosting a job talk by Samantha Walker on Wed., Mar. 27, 2024, starting at 4 pm in QC 2013, as part of the Department's Maritime Archaeology Job Search. Members of the department (undergraduate students, graduate students, etc.), stakeholders, and members of the public are welcome to attend. For more information on Samantha's presentation, please see the poster below.
Job Talk Poster (S. Walker) Mar. 27, 2024
Job Talk by Dr. Carolyn Kennedy (Tues., Mar. 19, 2024)
The Dept. of Archaeology is hosting a job talk by Dr. Carolyn Kennedy on Tues., Mar. 19, 2024, starting at 4 pm in QC 2013, as part of the Department's Maritime Archaeology Job Search. Members of the department (undergraduate students, graduate students, etc.), stakeholders, and members of the public are welcome to attend. For more information on Dr. Kennedy's presentation, please see the poster below.
Job Talk Poster (Dr. Kennedy) Mar. 19, 2024
New Employment Opportunity: Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) Position
New Employment Opportunity: Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) Position
The Department of Archaeology at Memorial University invites applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in maritime archaeology (in the broadest sense and open to all technical/theoretical areas of expertise), subject to final budgetary approval. The position will commence on July 1, 2024 (negotiable) on the St. John’s campus. Candidates must hold a PhD or have defended their doctoral thesis in archaeology or a cognate discipline by the time of appointment. We are seeking a candidate with a research portfolio oriented to the study of maritime cultures, encompassing the history of human (Indigenous and/or settler) populations and their relationships with marine and coastal ecosystems, landscapes, and changing climates. In a Canadian province where lifeways and identities are intertwined with stories, practices and beliefs connected to the sea, and in a university where ocean-related research and programs are a core strength, we are especially interested in applications from individuals already engaged in, or willing to develop, research projects anchored in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Check out the Employment Opportunities page for more information!
Exciting Study Abroad Opportunity: Empire & Colonial Process at Harlow Campus (Spring 2025)!
Study in Britain! Spring (May to June) 2025
Empire & Colonial Process
Embark on a journey through Britain's history from a distant outpost of Ancient Rome to the hub of a global economic and military Empire.
Uncover the past, explore the present, and be part of a transformative experience at Harlow Campus - where history comes to life!
Courses:
- FOLK/ARCH 3700: Museums and Historic Sites
- ARCH/HIST 3582: Historical Archaeology
- ARCH 3651: Archaeology of Exploration, Interaction and Settlement
- ARCH 4172: Postcolonial Archaeology
Fieldtrips:
- Oxford
- York
- Bath
- Bristol
- London
Interested? Please reach out to:
Dr. Lisa Rankin
Dept. of Archaeology, Memorial University
lrankin@mun.ca
Dr. Barry Gaulton
Dept. of Archaeology, Memorial University
bgaulton@mun.ca
Graduate Student Opportunity: Seeking M.A. and Ph.D. Students in Anthropology, Geography, and Archaeology
We are seeking graduate students either at the Ph.D. and M.A. levels, in Geography, Anthropology and Archaeology/Heritage studies interested in pursuing research on some of these broadly defined topics. Check out the news article for more details!
Archaeology PhD Candidate and Per Course Instructor Rita Ujunw Onah Awarded Faculty Volunteer Award
Archaeology PhD Candidate and Per Course Instructor Rita Ujunw Onah was awarded the Faculty Volunteer Award this year. This award is presented to a Memorial University faculty member for their significant volunteer contributions to the Memorial community, the St. John’s/provincial community, and/or a national or global community.
Congratulations on this great accomplishment, Rita!
Launching Memorial's Online Record of Experience (MORE)
University isn’t only about course work and studying. While academics will always be one of the key components of university life, it is equally important to use your time here to build your practical experience and explore as many things as possible. Through exploration, you will be able to discover:
- What you are truly interested in;
- What you are not interested in:
- What you are curious about;
- What makes you happy;
- And what you excel at doing.
To help you answer these questions, Student Life has created a tool to help you to engage, explore, and gain experiences.
Memorial’s Online Record of Experience (MORE) is a new experiential tracking tool that provides students with the ability to record and capture their various experiences. MORE compiles those experiences and showcases overall time committed, and competencies gained from participation. More than simply a record of student involvement or student activities, MORE uses reflection to transform activities into deeper learning experiences.