Resources

     Field research and analysis of original data are central components of anthropological study. The Department of Anthropology provides students with multiple opportunities to engage in anthropological research and analysis, through our extensive laboratory facilities and support of fieldwork by anthropology majors, through the Catherine E. Montgomery and Julia F. Gehan Fieldwork Funds.

     The Department of Anthropology has state of the art digital video and sound analysis labs, and newly renovated archaeology and physical anthropology labs.
 
The Digital Video Lab has analog and digital video playback capabilities and is configured to enable computer-based digital photo manipulation and non-linear video editing. The lab is wired to a nearby classroom for remote editing demonstrations and digital projections of students' projects.
 
The Sound Analysis Lab houses analog, digital, and computer-based means of analyzing and producing sound. Geared to the needs of linguistics, musical, and cognitive science research and teaching, the lab's hardware and software can be configured to extract and store sonic data and waveform analysis in a variety of formats and media, or to provide for the production and synthesis of sound. The Sound Analysis Lab is located in Blodgett Hall adjacent to the anthropology department's Digital Video Lab to facilitate the integration of sound and video production.
 
The Archaeology and Biological Anthropology Labs contain equipment for geoarchaeological and geophysical survey, and for the macro and microscopic analysis of osteological, zooarchaeological, palynological and artifactual materials. An extensive collection of fossil hominid and primate casts, zooarchaeological and artifact collections from North America, South America, Western Europe, the Middle East. New York State sites are available for student research and comparative studies.
 
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The Catherine E. Montgomery and Julia F. Gehan Fieldwork Funds
     The Catherine Elliott Montgomery Fund was established by Archibald and Anita Montgomery to promote fieldwork by Vassar College undergraduate anthropology students. The Julia Floyd Gehan Fund was established by the department from a bequest received from Ms. Gehan. It is used to support students whose field research is related to medical anthropology, Ms. Gehan's own field of interest. The Catherine Montgomery Fund has supported student ethnographic fieldwork in such locales as Cuba, the Eastern Caribbean, Belize, Kenya and Costa Rica; student fieldwork in primate studies; and student archaeological fieldwork at sites in France, New Mexico, Belize, and Peru. The Gehan Fund has supported student field research on Botanicas in Puerto Rico and on medical pluralism in India.
 
Request for Proposals
     The Anthropology Department welcomes applications from majors who would like support from either fund in undertaking anthropological fieldwork. Awards will be made by the Department faculty on the basis of the quality of the proposals submitted and the amount of money available in the funds. Applications will be received at any time and will be considered by the selection committee in December and May of each year.

Applicants are requested to submit the following information in triplicate:

1) A research proposal, to include:

a)  a detailed description of the proposed fieldwork

b)  the estimated time period

c)  an indication of whether the work will be part of an established program or is to be carried out independently

d)  if independent, proposal should indicate what research on the topic and courses relevant to the topic will have been completed before project is undertaken

2) A discussion of the importance of the proposed fieldwork to the applicant's Vassar education.

3) A budget estimate indicating:

a)  the total cost of the project including transportation, living expenses, tuition, if any

b)  the amount of money the applicant would like to receive

c)  the minimum amount of money which would make it possible to pursue the desired work.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit a field report following the completion of the fieldwork.
 
All inquiries should be addressed to department chair; completed applications should be submitted to the Anthropology office in Blodgett 310.
 
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