On November 22, 2024, the Archaeology Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition took place as part of a special Friday archaeology event. This competition challenged participants to present their research clearly and engagingly within a 180-second time limit, making their research understandable and interesting to a general audience regardless of their academic background.
A total of 11 students participated in this competition, including both archaeology undergraduate and graduate students: Max Shachar, Ben Coulter, Christina Youngpeter, Luis Bejar Luksic, Qimeng Duan, Ziyan Li, Melissa Ritchey, Zhuldyz Tashmanbetova, Jack Berner, Teresa Xu, and Lauren Malone. Their research spanned various periods, from prehistory to historical times, and covered vast regions, including Eurasia, Africa, China, and the Americas, showcasing diverse and innovative methodologies.
The panel of judges is an audience of non-archaeologists, emphasizing the importance of clear communication across disciplines. The first-place award went to Zhuldyz Tashmanbetova for her research on the saiga, the endemic antelope species, in Kazakhstan, using ZooMS analysis of ancient bone collagen to contribute to the preservation of the Eurasian steppe ecosystem. The second-place award was given to Lauren Malone for her study on African bone harpoons, tools used by hunter-fisher-gatherers to hunt fauna, exploring subsistence strategies and human adaptation to climate change.
The first Archaeology 3MT Competition was successful, with enthusiastic participation and a supportive audience. Many attendees from all subfields within the Anthropology department joined, creating a warm, intellectually stimulating atmosphere. The event not only highlighted the diverse and outstanding research within the archaeology program but also fostered a sense of community across the department.
