Carolyn Freiwald
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
Phone Number:
Email: crfreiwa@olemiss.edu
https://socanth.olemiss.edu/carolyn-freiwald/

Key Words: Maya; archaeology; Mesoamerica; bone chemistry; osteology; zooarchaeology; diet; migration

Research Description: I am an archaeologist who studies ancient migration, diet, and health, using forensic techniques on ancient skeletons. I study the ancient Maya and other peoples who lived in Mesoamerica, which includes Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. Undergraduate and graduate students have the chance to use bone chemistry (isotopes and elements), osteology (the study of bones), and (sometimes) genetics (aDNA) to answer basic questions about the past: Where did people live? What did they eat? I currently am looking for students to do forensic work (with my help) of ancient humans, the animals they ate, and to learn how to do scientific studies in archaeology. Current and past projects include: Ancient migration of ancient Maya kings and queens, trade and mobility of ancient dogs in Guatemala, diet in central Mexico at Chicoloapan 1500 years ago, early American foodways 10,000 years ago, reconstruction of the dental microbiome using aDNA, aDNA of ancient American dogs, bone tool production among the ancient Maya, the ancient Maya salt trade, "Dirt" eating, or edible clay in Africa and the US South. If you work in the lab, at minimum you will have your thesis and report and can co-publish with me if you are interested. I can teach you isotope geochemistry and the osteology you need to know to do these studies. More important, I can show you how to think more broadly about what your findings tell us about people. I work in Belize each year, so it may be possible to join me in fieldwork, or to work on research here and have your honors thesis be a real study that will help other people learn about the past.

Honors Theses:

Clark, Natalie Ann (2022) Stature Estimates of the Classic Period Maya from Chac Balam and San Juan, Ambergris Caye, Belize (full text)

Weeden, Sloan (2020) Epiclassic Mobility and Diet at Chicoloapan Viejo, Valley of Mexico (full text)