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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Congratulations to Colin Grier on his recent publication The Archaeology of Seafaring in Small-Scale Societies Negotiating Watery Worlds. #MaritimeArchaeology

book cover for The Archaeology of Seafaring in Small-Scale Societies
Negotiating Watery Worlds and photo of Colin Grier

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Please join us for our fall colloquium with guest speaker Samantha Fladd. Dr. Fladd will be discussing her new book. Where: Todd Hall 226 When: Thursday, Oct. 15th, 4 PM Please check your email for zoom information closer to time. • #ChacoCanyon • #SouthwestArchaeology • #AncestralPuebloan

Be sure to mark your calendars for our first Colloquium this year.
Dr. Fladd will be discussing her new book.

Where: Todd Hall 226
When: Thursday, Oct. 15th, 4 PM

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Congratulations to Rachel Horowitz on the publication of her new book, Ancient Maya Embedded Economies! #Anthropology #AncientHistory #AcademicPublishing #MayaStudies

book cover Ancient Maya Embedded Economies

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Last week, Colin Grier’s Anth 334 course (Time & Culture in the Northwest) spent the day in his NW Coast Archaeology Lab on VNC campus. The goal was to provide students w hands on experience w ancient Northwest Coast technologies, faunal analysis, & archaeological mapping & remote sensing methods.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The museum volunteering program is underway! Great job Madison Pullis. #AskACurator #CampusLife #UniversityMuseum

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Samantha Fladd on her recent book, Capturing Water: Puebloan Resilience and Agricultural Sustainability in Chaco Canyon! Dr. Fladd will be speaking about her book at the fall Anthropology Colloquium on Thursday, Oct. 15th, at 4:00 PM in Todd Hall, Room 226.

Book cover of Capturing Water: Puebloan Resilience and Agricultural Sustainability in Chaco Canyon.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Congratulations to Professor Erin Thornton and her co-editors (Aurélie Manin, Camilla F. Speller, and Eduardo Corona-M.) on their recent publication "Exploring the History of Turkey Management and Domestication: A Transatlantic Perspective". #Zooarchaeology #MeleagrisGallopavo #WSUAnthropology

Photo of Erin Thornton standing by wild turkey sculpture

cover of Erin Thornton's co-edited volume 10

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Anthro and HumBio Undergrads (or others interested in these majors) are invited to attend our Meet & Greet this Thursday. Ashley Monaghan from Univ. of Auckland will be there prior to the event to discuss education abroad opportunities. #AucklandStudyAbroad #SemesterAbroad #WSUAnthropology

Ashley Monaghan from University of Auckland will be meet with WSU Anthro undergrads this Thursday 3 PM College Hall 159

Anthro and HumBio undergrad Italian Soda Bar meet and greet event. Thursday, 24th 3:30-5pm

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

WSU Anthropology is excited to promote the virtual book launch for "The Cambridge Handbook for the Anthropology of Death", co-edited by Sarah L. Richardson, Sarah E. Wagner, & Ruth E. Toulson. For info: blogs.gwu.edu/ccas-cupanth... To RSVP: blogs.gwu.edu/ccas-cupanth... Everyone is invited!

Sarah Richardson holding a copy of “The Cambridge Handbook for the Anthropology of Death” (with Sarah Wagner and Ruth Toulson)

Book cover of “The Cambridge Handbook for the Anthropology of Death” (with Sarah Wagner and Ruth Toulson) and Book Launch Announcement

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

During the summer, Dr. Rachel Horowitz conducted NSF funded fieldwork in Belize. Presented at the Belize Archaeology Symposium, hosted a stone tool making workshop, and participated in a public archaeology day. #Fieldwork #Lithics #MayanArchaeology #Artifacts #WSUResearch

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

WSU Anthropology is excited to introduce cultural and medical anthropologist Katharina Rynkiewich. Her first book, "Acts of Resistance: Antibiotic Use and Prescribing Culture in the United States," was just published. #WSUMedicine #PublicHealth #AppliedAnthropology #DiseaseDiagnosisClub

Photo of the cover of Katharina's first book, “Acts of Resistance: Antibiotic Use and Prescribing Culture in the United States”

WSU Anthropology welcomes cultural and medical anthropologist Katharina Rynkiewich. Her first book was just published.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

☀️ Summer fieldwork update! Dr. John Blong (EARL at WSU), working with the Nez Perce Tribe and Dr. Justin Holcomb (UK), recently excavated the Kelly Forks Site in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests of Idaho. Check out the crystal quartz artifact found by anthropology major Rhiannon Witt!

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Our graduate students turn questions about the past into hands-on experiments! MA student Abby Antinossi uses experimental archaeology to explore individuality in stone tool production. She will analyze the waste to understand how individual variation may appear in archaeological lithic assemblages.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Congratulations to these faculty members on their well-earned promotions! Dr. Erin Thornton has been promoted to Full Professor, Dr. Rachel Horowitz and Dr. John Blong have been promoted to Associate Professor with tenure, and Dr. Nanda Grow has been promoted to Scholarly Associate Professor.

Drs. Thornton, Blong, Grow and Horowitz.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

This spring our faculty and students shared their research at meetings across the country. Graduate students Sam Neunzig and Tamara Uldall presented at the Society for American Archaeology conference, and Dr. Nanda Grow presented at the American Association of Biological Anthropologists meeting.

Sam Neunzig with his poster at the SAA conference in Denver.

Tamara Uldall standing with her poster at the Society for American Archaeology conference in San Francisco.

Dr. Nanda Grow with her poster at the American Association for Biological Anthropologists meeting.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

The Department of Anthropology hosted a table at Spring Preview, an event for prospective WSU students and their families. We shared information about our programs and highlighted opportunities for hands-on learning. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about Anthropology at WSU!

(L-R): CAS Student Ambassador Xavier Beazer, faculty member Dr. Nanda Grow (Evolutionary Anthropology), academic advisor Dena Spencer-Curtis, and faculty member Dr. Rachel Horowitz (Archaeology).

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

We're continuing to celebrate to our Anthropology graduates this spring! This year’s graduates include PhD, MA, and BA students who completed an impressive range of accomplishments. Here are some spring commencement highlights.

Pictured:

Dr. Evelien Deelen (Dissertation: Veterinary Care in Anthropological Perspective: Ethnoveterinary Medicine and Human–Horse Relationships; Advisor: Dr. Marsha Quinlan)

Dr. Arpita Sinha (Advisor: Dr. Clare Wilkinson)

Temechegn Bira (Dissertation: Social Learning in Childhood and Adolescence Among Koygu Transitional Hunter-Gatherers and Nyangatom Pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia; Advisor: Barry Hewlett)

Dr. Temechegn Bira (Dissertation: Social Learning in Childhood and Adolescence Among the Koygu Transitional Hunter-Gatherers and the Nyangatom Pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia; Advisor: Dr. Barry Hewlett)

Dr. Addisalem Sugamo Dissertation: Megaliths, Mobility, and Landscape: Lithic Technology and Strontium Isotope Evidence from Gedeo and Menz, Ethiopia (Advisor: Dr. Andrew Duff)

Pictured: M.A. graduates Madeline Jennings, Hawi Bekele, Taylor Haskett

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

More congratulations are in order for Anthropology graduate students! Taylor Haskett and Madeline Jenning successfully defended their MA theses and graduated this semester. Stay tuned for photos of our spring grads!

Dr. Emily Van Alst, chair of the thesis committee, and Madeline Jennings.

L-R: Dr. John Blong, chair of the thesis committee, Taylor Haskett, and committee members Dr. Rachel Horowitz and Dr. Emily Van Alst.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

🎓️ Congratulations to our 2026 recipients of the Outstanding Senior Award! Emiltze Cervantes-Contrera is the Anthropology Outstanding Senior, and Angelina Nicole Mee is the Human Biology Outstanding Senior. We can't wait to see what lies ahead for them. More information: cas.wsu.edu/recognizing-...

Emiltze Cervantes-Contreras, recipient of 2026 Outstanding Senior Award in Anthropology.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

More exciting news from the SAA conference! Congratulations to PhD candidate Jordan Thompson, recipient of the award for outstanding student poster presentation. Jordan’s poster combines archaeological science with community-engaged research to shed light on a site dating back at least 10,300 years.

Jordan Thompson, winner of student poster award.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Congratulations to Tamara Uldall, recipient of the 2026 Paul Goldberg Award for Geoarchaeological Research, presented at the Society for American Archaeology meeting. Tamara’s MA research in the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) ancestral homelands examines how natural processes shape archaeological sites.

Tamara Uldall presented with 2026 Paul Goldberg award.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Still more from the Society for American Archaeology conference! Here is Dr. Samantha Fladd with a freshly printed copy of "Capturing Water: Puebloan Resilience and Agricultural Sustainability in Chaco Canyon," a new volume co-edited with R. Gwinn Vivian. Book here: uofupress.com/books/captur...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

At the annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, WSU Anthropology faculty and graduate students shared their research across the field. Pictured: Dr. John Blong, Ph.D. candidate Jordan Thompson, collaborator Dr. Justin Holcomb (KU), M.A. student Andrew Ramos, and Dr. Rachel Horowitz.

Drs. John Blong (WSU) and Justin Holcomb (KU).

Anthropology Ph.D. candidate Jordan Thompson.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Conference season is upon us! Anthropology graduate students Jordan Thompson and Taylor Haskett presented their research at the BioRISE Indigenous Research and Projects Symposium held at the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center at WSU.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Congratulations to our Department of Anthropology CAS awardees! Dr. Rachel Horowitz received the Mullen Memorial Teaching Award. Madeline Jennings received the Master’s Student Achievement Award in the Social Sciences. Learn about the 2026 CAS Award recipients: cas.wsu.edu/award-recipi...

Madeline Jennings (L), recipient of the Master’s Student Achievement Award in the Social Sciences, standing with Dr. Rachel Horowitz (R), recipient of the Mullen Memorial Teaching Award.

Madeline Jennings, recipient of the Master’s Student Achievement Award in the Social Sciences.

Dr. Rachel Horowitz, recipient of the Mullen Memorial Teaching Award.

Madeline Jennings (L), recipient of the Master’s Student Achievement Award in the Social Sciences, standing with Dr. Emily Van Alst (R), chair of Madeline's M.A. thesis committee.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Grad student RC Timilsina recently coauthored TWO articles! "Living with floods: risk and resilience in Nepal’s Koshi River communities": link.springer.com/article/10.1... "Village mobility and local resource utilization are adaptation strategies in Nepal’s Koshi floodplain": doi.org/10.30852/sb....

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Both GPSA Teaching Assistant of the Year awards went to Anthropology this year 🎉 Congratulations to Sumanta Roy and Summer Peltzer for being recognized by the Graduate and Professional Student Association for their outstanding work with undergraduate students.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Writing Wednesday! Dr. Nanda Grow recently served as a co-editor and contributor to a special issue of Folia Primatologica on interactions between wild primates and domestic animals. 📸 Photo by Jeffrey V. Peterson; Bali, Indonesia 🔗 Read Dr. Grow’s article (open access): brill.com/downloadpdf/...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Three of our undergraduate students, Tariq Rose, Piper Welch, and Sally Wierenga, presented a poster this week at the Pacific Northwest Pre-Health Symposium! This is a great example of the impactful work our students are doing beyond the classroom.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Regents Professor Emeritus Dr. Tim Kohler, 2026 William D. Lipe Scholar, presents today at 4PM in College Hall 220; his talk is titled "Inequality’s Foundations: How our Prehistoric Success Changed our Lives Forever." Zoom: wsu.zoom.us/j/9736369213... Meeting ID: 973 6369 2132 Passcode: 05051935

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Today is #CougsGive! Gifts to the Department of Anthropology Excellence Fund directly support student learning. To give: visit foundation.wsu.edu/give/ and then select the “Colleges” tab. Choose “Arts and Sciences” from the menu. Then choose “Department of Anthropology Excellence Fund."

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Congratulations to Johnathon Whitacre, undergraduate Anthropology major, on successfully defending his honors thesis! His project, “Warp, Weft, and Self: Embodied Knowledge Through Experimental Weaving,” uses experimental archaeology to explore past weaving practices.

Dr. Emily Van Alst, Johnathon Whitacre, and Dr. Rachel Horowitz.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Cougs Give is coming up and it’s a great time to support Anthropology! Gifts directly support student opportunities. To give, visit foundation.wsu.edu/give/ and in the Colleges tab select "Arts and Sciences” and “Department of Anthropology Excellence Fund.” Every contribution makes a difference!

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

At the Human Biology Association annual meeting, Ph.D. candidate Madison Honig presented her research. Since 2024, she has studied water quality in Utila, Honduras, analyzing PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in household systems. Her work shows variation by storage type, with wells unaffected.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Dr. Samantha Fladd co-edited an issue in Advances in Archaeological Practice. The issue “Beyond Leaky Pipelines” highlights barriers shaping inequality in the field and Dr. Fladd provides actionable strategies in her contributions. Read the press release here: www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Lights, camera, anthropology 🎬 Join us for the spring colloquium this Wednesday, April 8 at 4 PM in College Hall 220. Dr. Clare Wilkinson will explore how realism is created in Hindi cinema through production design and how filmmakers build a sense of time. Zoom ID 982 7599 8203 | Passcode 923316

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Checking in on our graduate alumni - congratulations to Dr. Kanupriya Dhawan (PhD, Cultural Anthropology) on completing her degree in 2025! Her research explores how clothing shapes identity in the South Asian diaspora, and she recently served on the Fulbright FLTA National Screening Committee.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

WSU Anthropology Ph.D. students Madison Honig and Tigist Temesgen presented their resesarch projects at the Northwest Evolution, Ecology, and Human Behavior Symposium earlier this year. Great work representing the department!

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Congratulations to Sumanta Roy, a Ph.D. student in cultural anthropology, who will join the Smithsonian’s Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History in D.C. His project will explore connections between material culture, labor, and social life in India.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Samantha Fladd for coauthoring the paper of the month in the journal Advances in Archaeological Practice. The article examines how collaborative writing shapes research practices in the field.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

A Museum of Anthropology exhibit is featured in a Walking Tour for WSU’s National Farmworker Awareness Week. Explore farmworker histories, including “The Braceros of Today: Contratados.” Self-guided with audio available. Schedule: camp.wsu.edu/nfaw Walking Tour Map: camp.wsu.edu/media/dz0cmb...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Anthropology Ph.D. students Sumanta Roy and RC Timilsina presented at the GPSA Research Exposition, part of WSU’s weeklong Showcase where graduate students across campus present research. Congratulations to Sumanta for earning Third Place in Physical & Social Sciences!

Sumanta Roy presenting a poster titled, "Toxic Work and Structured Inequality: Informal E-Waster Labor in Delhi."

RC Timilsina presenting a poster titled, "Living in Koshi floodplain: Mobile human settlement and reliance on local resources are adaptation strategies to disaster risk reduction."

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

WSU Anthropology students had a strong showing at SURCA (Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities)! We’re excited to celebrate several students who received awards: Johnathon Whitacre, Gentry, Bailee Hanson, Tariq Rose, Piper Welch, and Sally Wierenga. Learn more: surca.wsu.edu

Undergraduate Anthropology students Tariq Rose, Sally Wierenga, Clara Welch, Gentry, and Bailee Hanson with their SURCA presentation awards.

WSU Anthropology students Tariq Rose, Sally Wierenga, and Clara Welch with SURCA poster titled, "Reconstructing Identity: An Osteological Study of a Limited Provenience Anatomical Cranial Collection."

WSU Anthropology student Emiltze Cervantes-Contreras with SURCA poster titled, "Latino Immigrant Agricultural Worker Culture and Its Effects on Workplace Hazards."

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

New research by WSU anthropologists Bonnie Hewlett and Barry Hewlett along with WSU PhD student Harshita Agrawal examines how Aka and Ngandu adolescents think about health, attractiveness, and marriageability in the Central African Republic. Article 🔗: doi.org/10.1016/j.ev...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Check out Cougar Kudos on the Office of the Provost’s website to see WSU faculty, staff, and students recognized for their exceptional support of WSU and our communities: provost.wsu.edu/provost-pers... We’re especially proud to see our own Dr. Erin Thornton featured!

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Hands-on learning helps us connect material culture to the people who create it. In ANTH 340 Maya, Aztec, and Inka taught by Dr. Rachel Horowitz, students used cochineal insects to recreate a vibrant red dye that was widely used across the Americas before European contact and is still used today.

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

🎓 Attention Anthropology Seniors! If you're graduating from WSU Pullman in May 2026, it’s time to start planning! If you plan to walk across the stage, be sure to apply for graduation by March 6, 2026 to avoid late fees. That's Friday THIS week. We can’t wait to celebrate you! 🎉

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

What does ethical, collaborative fieldwork look like? In two new open-access chapters, WSU anthropologist Bonnie Hewlett reflects on compassionate research practices. www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.116...

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WSU Department of Anthropology @wsuanthropology.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Dr. Colin Grier and colleagues have published a new book, "The Archaeology of Seafaring in Small-Scale Societies," through the University Press of Florida. The full book is open access and available as a FREE download here: floridapress.org/978081307511...

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