Author: Michaela Hoots
My name is Michaela Hoots and I have recently graduated from the Maritime Studies Program at ECU. For the last two and a half years I have had the privilege to volunteer at the Queen Anne’s Revenge Lab. Strangely enough, in my first year of undergraduate university I was on the pre-medical track. However, after the first year, I had to accept that this path was not what I wanted for myself. After some heavy thought during that summer, I decided to combine three things that I enjoy doing and find a career path for them: art, science, and travel. That is how I ended up in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Anthropology program with a focus on archaeology. There I found a love for the study of past humans through artifacts.
As my senior year fast approached, I knew I wanted to continue my schooling in maritime archaeology. Before I started my master’s degree at ECU, my only real exposure to maritime archaeology was a passing PowerPoint slide during my introductory course in archaeology. It stuck out to me just the same, and the summer before my senior year I jumped at the chance to study abroad in Oxford with a focus on maritime archaeology.
I began my senior year looking into colleges that have a focus on maritime archaeology, and soon got accepted into East Carolina University. I have to say, I have had great experiences while studying there and have met many wonderful people. This includes my time at the QAR Lab. Not only did I volunteer simply to get experience, but my graduate thesis focused artifacts aboard La Concorde/Queen Anne’s Revenge related to foodways. Having the ability to ask questions about these artifacts and having that discourse face to face was a great benefit. I have learned so many things about artifact handling, treating, and storing, as well as how a functional archaeological conservation lab should run efficiently through teamwork and proper paperwork. This knowledge and these skills are truly invaluable to me as I continue striving towards my future career. If you had asked me eight years ago what I thought I would be doing, it would not have included anything I have done in these last few years. I am truly happy with what I have experienced and accomplished. Now, on to the next chapter of my life!
Images:
Michaela on an archaeological dig. Image courtesy of Michaela Hoots.
Michaela helping with maritime fieldwork. Image courtesy of Michaela Hoots.
Michaela graduating from ECU. Image courtesy of Michaela Hoots.