UCF Featured in Adventures in Florida Archaeology

Anthropology alumna and director of the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute (FHSAI), Patrisha L. Meyers, recently featured stories written by UCF Anthropology faculty, John J. Schultz, Ph.D., and current graduate student in the UCF Anthropology M.A. program, Kevin Gidusko, in FHSAI’s most recent magazine. According to Meyers who is also the Director of the Brevard Museum (home to the FHSAI), the publication is “dedicated to education, outreach, and stewardship of Florida’s unique cultural resources.”

In Dr. Schultz’s piece titled “Applied Archaeology: Applications in Forensic Anthropology,” he highlights archaeological methods adapted by forensic archaeologists for use in excavating clandestine burials. The cover page of his article features a picture of UCF bioarchaeologist, Sandra Wheeler, Ph.D., excavating in Egypt.

In the article, “Future Archaeology: Drones and Photogrammetry in the Archaeologist’s Toolkit,” UCF Anthropology graduate student Kevin Gidusko, who is also the public archaeologist for the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s East-Central region, discusses ongoing technological advancements in the field of archaeology, particularly with the use of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS).

“The field of archaeology seems to undergo punctuated bursts of change, often brought about by methodological or technological advancements. Often, this created whole new avenues of interacting with data that in many ways, changes the way we archaeologists go about doing our job,” explained Gidusko. “One of those pieces of technology that is presently shifting our perspectives quite literally, is the introduction of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), into the archaeologist’s toolkit.”

The Florida Historical Society has been supporting archeology  in the state for more than a century. Through its archeological institute, the society is dedicated to educating the public about Florida archeology through research publication, educational outreach and the promotion of complimentary work by other organizations.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be the director of the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute, as well as director of the Brevard Museum,” said Meyers. “Many of the articles were written by archaeologists working in the field, while others were written by historians offering a unique perspective on some of Florida’s most interesting archaeological sites. I hope you will hear each writer’s individual voice come through the pages and draw you into their world.”

To learn more about UCF alumna Patrisha Meyer’s work with the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute, click here.