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Senior anthropology majors Shannon Friere, of Glens Falls, NY, and Emily Stanfill, of Littleton, CO, studied in Italy during the fall semester, 2007, and gave Professor of Anthropology Ali Pomponio -- in Italy on a Fulbright Fellowship -- and Emeritus Professor of Anthropology Richard Perry a tour of the areas they studied.

Freire and Stanfill were in Italy from July through the end of 2007, studying Etruscan archaeology, especially Orvieto's underground labyrinth of caves in the heart of its Medieval quarter. After a long term of relative neglect, the caves have been researched relatively recently; the were used for wine cellars, dovecote and to dig wells for water. The combination of storage space and water supply made Orvieto, built on a cliff, virtually impregnable, allowing the Etruscans to withstand a lengthy seige by Romans.

The students are expected to give a presentation on their research on campus in the spring semester of 2008.

Pomponio, a Fulbright Scholar, is spending the 2007-2008 academic year in Siena, Italy. Based at the University of Siena, Pomponio is conducting research, teaching and lecturing. She spent a year of study there as an undergraduate, earning her bachelor's degree from SUNY Geneseo with a double-major in Italian language and literature and anthropology. Pomponio also conducted research in Siena for her master's degree thesis, from Bryn Mawr College. Her plans include team-teaching with a colleague at the university a graduate course, Ritual, Festivals and Performance: Comparing American and European Approaches; offering several public presentations on topics related to her work; and continuing research on the Palio, a horse race and pageant with medieval roots. In addition, Pomponio plans to teach a new course when she returns to St. Lawrence, on the arts and culture of the Italian Renaissance.

More: Research Opportunities at St. Lawrence

Posted: January 10, 2008