Uncovering the Past: Anthropology Students and Dr. Mindy Pitre Bring History to Life
Dr. Mindy Pitre, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology, recently co-authored a paper with alumna Marika Stauring ’24, titled “An abnormal connection: bilateral non-osseous calcaneonavicular coalition in the Old Burial Ground in Heuvelton, New York,” published in the journal Anthropological Science. The paper stemmed from an analysis of skeletal remains belonging to a 15-year-old individual from the Old Burial Ground in Heuvelton, New York. Dating back to the 19th century, the remains revealed tarsal coalition, a condition where the bones in the foot are abnormally fused. This rare case, one of the few documented in the North American archaeological record, offers valuable insights into the health of settlers in rural upstate New York.
The remains of this individual were among five discovered in 2019 during the construction of a water tower in the Village of Heuvelton, New York. Dr. Pitre, a bioarchaeologist —a specialist who studies human remains from archaeological sites— was called to the site by the Sheriff’s Office. Recognizing an opportunity for hands-on learning, she involved more than 20 of her students in the excavation and subsequent skeletal analysis. Reflecting on the project, Dr. Pitre shared, “It was an amazing experience for my students: they got to practice all of the techniques they had learned about in class in the field. They also got to work closely with local community members and archaeologists.” The project earned a New York State Historic Preservation Award for Excellence in Archaeological Stewardship and in the end the five individuals were respectfully reburied in Hillcrest Cemetery in Heuvelton, NY.
Sources:
https://www.stlawu.edu/news/anthropology-prof-students-exhume-skeletal-remains-heuvelton
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ase/advpub/0/advpub_240828/_pdf/-char/en