Hands-On Experience for Students

Students come to Eastern New Mexico University's anthropology program because they want hands-on experience learning and working with the skills they'll use throughout their careers.  Here are a few examples of the kinds of projects our students work on outside of class.

City of Rocks State Park Excavation Project (Summer 2019)

Several anthropology students will work with a faculty member on excavations at a small prehistoric Mimbres-Mogollon structural site at City of Rocks State Park north of Deming, New Mexico. 

Agency for Conservation Archaeology (2019 - Ongoing)

The Agency for Conservation Archaeology is a non-profit contract services unit of the Department of Anthropology and Applied Archaeology.  In the spring of 2019 one graduate student worked on curation tasks, and more students will be employed in the future.

3D Scanning (2018 - Present)

Several students are working with a faculty member to learn how to use the department's brand new 3D scanner.  They'll soon start working with our new 3D printer as well.  Two undergraduate students gave a presentation on this project at the ENMU Student Research and Creativity Conference.

Augmented Reality Sandbox (2018)

The Blackwater Draw Museum recently acquired an augmented reality sandbox.  Two graduate students worked with the museum curator and the ENMU Informational Technology Services staff to get it set up and working.  The students gave a presentation on the sandbox and its potential use as a teaching tool at the ENMU Student Research and Creativity Conference.

Deep Curation (2017 - Present)

Several graduate and undergraduate students  are working with the Blackwater Draw director in our deep curation facility.  They're currently combining all of the individual collection inventories into a master inventory, rebagging and relabeling artifacts as needed, and updating information.  Not only are they doing work that will be utilized and appreciated by everyone who does any research with these collections in the future, but they also get to see every single item in the collections.

Blackwater Draw Museum (ongoing)

Five graduate students and two undergraduate students currently work in the Blackwater Draw Museum.  Their responsibilities vary but include staffing the front desk, helping with tours, answering visitor questions, and setting up and maintaining displays.

Blackwater Draw National Historic Landmark (ongoing)

This year three graduate students and one undergraduate student work at the Blackwater Draw archaeological site.  Their responsibilities vary but include staffing the visitor's center, helping with tours, answering visitor questions, and assisting with site maintenance.

Atlatl Competition (annually)

Many graduate and undergraduate students participate in the public atlatl competition held every fall at Blackwater Draw.  This includes repairing or building darts and targets, setting up throwing locations at the site, demonstrating how to use an atlatl for attendees, supervising the competition, staffing souvenir and activity booths at the event, and helping with all organizational activities such as publicity, obtaining supplies, site clean-up, etc.

Museum Water Exhibit (2017 - 2018)

One graduate student and two undergraduate students worked with the Blackwater Draw Museum curator to prepare an exhibit on water.  This includes researching the topic, obtaining exhibit materials, designing and setting up the exhibit, and preparing display documentation.  One of the undergraduates gave a presentation on this project at the New Mexico Association of Museums conference.

Ceramics Teaching Collection (2017)

One graduate student and one undergraduate student worked with a faculty member to reorganize our department's ceramics teaching collection.  This included sorting, boxing, and labeling items as well as preparing a complete inventory.

Aztec Ruins Faunal Remains (2016 - 2018)

Three graduate students worked with a faculty member and analyzed more than 30,000 bones from Aztec Ruins.  Another graduate student then entered the analysis data so the final report can be prepared.

Farmers' Markets (2016 - 2017)

Two undergraduate students worked with a faculty member on a study of the social and economic dynamics of local farmers' markets.  The students presented their research at two conferences.

Arena Alta (2016)

Seven students worked with a faculty member on a one-week field project at Arena Alta, New Mexico, finishing test excavations from the previous year's archaeological field school.