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Anthropology Professor Publishes Book on Yosemite Indians

September 10, 2009

The University of California Press will soon release a new book written by Prof. Kathleen Hull that analyzes the timing, magnitude, and cultural consequences of epidemics of fatal diseases among Native American communities during the colonial period. Pestilence and Peristence: Yosemite Indian Demography and Culture in Colonial California focuses on the experience of Yosemite Indians, and is based on original archaeological research in Yosemite Valley as well as native oral history, historical documents, and ethnographic sources. Prof. Hull's study contributes to the ongoing debate on the precedence and impact of non-native disease in colonial encounters, and thereby challenges concepts of colonialism in anthropological archaeology.  The dual aggressive forces of colonialism—introduced disease and physical incursion—are considered separately in this case, focusing on native history, experience, and decision-making.  The Yosemite Indian case demonstrates that, contrary to some critiques of catastrophic depopulation in the Americas, epidemic disease did spread to and through hunting and gathering groups prior to face-to-face encounters with colonists.  On the other hand, the data establish that even widespread disease and catastrophic depopulation were insufficient to destabilize many native cultures in the long term. Analysis of the Yosemite data is enriched through comparison with ten other case studies of possible colonial-era native population collapse elsewhere in North America.

UCM Faculty and Students Participate in Society for California Archaeology Annual Meeting

January 23, 2009

The Society for California Archaeology is holding its Annual Meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Modesto March 12-15, 2009, and UCM faculty and students are playing a prominent role in that professional gathering.  As Program Chair for the meeting, Prof. Kathleen Hull is planning the Plenary session, as well scheduling other symposia, forums, workshops, and general sessions for the 700 expected attendees.  In addition, Prof. Hull has invited Prof. Maurizio Forte of UCM's World Heritage program to speak at the public lecture on Thursday evening to share his research and vision for digital heritage preservation. Finally, UCM students are being encouraged to volunteer at the meetings so they may attend papers and special sessions for students on Native American consultation and career opportunities or graduate school options in archaeology. For more information contact Prof. Hull (khull3@ucmerced.edu).

Students Across Campus Value Anthropology

November 16, 2008

While many UC Merced students have yet to explore the benefits of Anthropology to their education, their understanding of the world beyond the university, and their future careers, those students who have taken one or more Anthropology courses are quick to recognize how important an anthropological perspective can be. In fields ranging from the social sciences to engineering, students have commented on how anthropology has contributed to their intellectual, personal, and professional growth. For example, two such students have credited anthropology with informing their work or career choices in recent spotlight articles, including management major (and Anthropology minor) Martin MacLeod and economics major Matt Siordia. Psychology major (and Cognitive Science minor) Cynthia Badeker recently credited research methods she learned in an upper division archaeology course with Prof. Kathleen Hull with contributing to her academic success at UC Merced, including her acceptance to the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. Badeker said Prof. Hull encouraged her "to be an independent thinker by looking for the traditional and individual biases of the researchers as well as recognizing bigger patterns within bigger pictures over long periods of time."

Engineering student Paulo Acoba even took time to share his enthusiasm for anthropology with Prof. Robin DeLugan after a summer internship with a automotive performance exhaust company in southern California. Acoba reported that "while I was down there, and while I was working, I couldn't help but look at my work and my surroundings through the eyes of an anthropologist. Even though I'm an engineering major, your class gave me a new set of 'eyes' to view my surroundings, especially in the work place." As Acoba further noted that "our studies are never bound by our majors." We couldn't have said it better!