Applied Anthropologist Profile: Holly Martelle, Founder and Principal Archaeologist of Timmins-Martelle Heritage Consultants, Inc.

 

Holly Martelle (Image Source: Martelle)

Today’s blog post will feature another applied anthropologist, Dr. Holly Martelle, one of the founders and current Principal Archaeologist of Timmins-Martelle Heritage Consultants, Inc. (TMHC), a cultural resource management firm in Ontario, Canada.  Martelle’s journey to founding TMHC was the culmination of years of educational, research, and professional experience.  These experiences provided her the background to found TMHC, as well as establish her as one of the leading archaeologists in the region.  This blog post will provide you with additional information into her educational and professional pursuits, along with her advice for aspiring professional archaeologists.

Holly Martelle pursued her undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.  When she began her anthropological studies it was predicted that there would be a need for professional archaeologists throughout the province as employed archaeologists aged out and retired.  Those who would fill these open positions would need significant amounts of experience, training, and certifications, which meant graduate work.  Although this prediction did not turn out quite as predicted Martelle committed herself to her studies, absorbing all she could from her professors at both the undergraduate and graduate level.  This persistence paid off as she was eventually employed in various archaeological capacities, including as a Heritage Planner for the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (a position similar to what Karyn de Dufour does in Nevada). 

During her educational pursuits, particularly while conducting her doctoral research at the University of Toronto, Marcelle dedicated herself to providing a voice to those who were never prominently featured (if at all) in historical spheres.  This included groups such as women, immigrants, African-Canadians, the working class, and Indigenous populations.  She felt compelled not only to study these groups in the past but work with their descendant and Indigenous populations to help her better understand what she was discovering and researching through her archaeological work.  Her approach was ahead of its time as today it is rapidly becoming more common to work with these groups in archaeological research.  Martelle notes that by incorporating multiple voices and perspectives into archaeological interpretation a richer and more accurate result is produced.

It was a combination of her professional experiences and research interests that led to her cofounding TMHC in 2003, with partner Dr. Peter Timmins.  TMHC has and continues to work closely with Indigenous populations whenever their archaeological work intersects with their history and identity.  This is just one of many reasons why the firm received the Ontario Archaeological Society’s award for Excellence in Cultural Resource Management the same year it was founded.

Martelle encourages those interested in pursuing careers in archaeology to always be open to learning-be it in a classroom or during fieldwork.  The field of archaeology is always changing and growing, so keeping up with the latest methods and theoretical approaches is key to staying employable.  She also urges novice archaeologists to listen to established archaeologists.  Their knowledge and experience is a great source of information and optimal educational opportunity, not just about how to pursue fieldwork but how the field has changed and continues to evolve over time.

 

Bibliography

Museum of Ontario Archaeology. (2019, March 7). For International Women’s Day, MOA is celebrating women in archaeology! . Retrieved from Museum of Ontario Archaeology: https://archaeologymuseum.ca/for-international-womens-day-moa-is-celebrating-women-in-archaeology/

No Author. (2021). Holly Martelle, PhD - Principal Archaeologist - Heritage Planner. Retrieved from Timmins Martelle Heritage Consultants: https://tmhc.ca/people/principals/martelle#main_begins

 

 

Spotlight on Students: The History of American Phrases

This post highlights the work required of my SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology students.  Students were given the opportunity to explore an American phrase of their choice, researching its history and meanings over time. Several students were given the opportunity to have their exemplary work featured on the blog, and the students who provided permission have their work featured here in this and the following blog posts.   Please show your appreciation for their work through the comments.

 

Graphic of the game, "Nine Dots," which inspired the phrase "Think Outside the Box" since one had to move outside of the box to solve the puzzle.

By: Ahshantie Miller

There are many different metaphors that we use today in everyday conversations. I have never stopped to think about the many different American and non-American phrases I used on a day to day basis. The phrase that I will be discussing today is “Thinking outside the box.” I chose this phrase because it is still very relevant today. Many people in America still use this metaphor. To me, the phrase means to do something original or something no one has done before.

“Thinking outside the box” originated in the United States in the late 1960s/early 1970s from a puzzle called Nine Dots. The objective of the puzzle was to connect the dots by drawing four straight, continuous lines and never lifting the pencil from the paper. The puzzle is solved only if you draw the four lines outside of the confines of the square, which are made up by the nine dots. This is
where the phrase “Thinking outside the box” was born.

In today’s society, the phrase “Thinking outside the box” means to explore ideas that are creative and that are not limited or controlled by rules or traditions. Thinking outside the box still has the original meaning in a way. Both the puzzle and the current definition mean to do something creative and stepping out of your own comfort zone. The only major difference is that instead of using the definition in a game, you are using it in real life.

Tjoebigham, and Smokeylicious. “How and When Did the Phrase ‘Thinking Outside the Box’ Originate?” Fun Trivia Quizzes - World's Largest Trivia and Quiz Site, 11 Dec. 2007, https://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question89686.html

Think Outside The Box.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster,
https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/think%20outside%20the%20box

 

Graphic of the phrase "Snitches Get Stitches", referring to how people who speak to the authorities get hurt.

 

By: Taylor Miller

The American phrase I chose was "snitches get stitches". When I was younger my siblings and I said this phrase, so I want to understand the true meaning of it and where it started. As a little girl my siblings and I said "snitches get stitches" a lot when we did not want to end up getting into trouble. If we snitched on them then they would beat us up or talk about us to our face after our mom walked away. It was their way of punishing us for getting them in trouble. The meaning of "snitches get stitches" to me is if you tell on someone something bad will happen to you in return. 

According to Slanglang.net, "“Snitches get stitches” was originally mainly used by criminals to avert witnesses from testifying in court, because if they did, they would literally end up with stitches, or worse." We still used this phrase a lot today, but mostly just to scare someone or to help someone out of trouble. Stated from Quora.com, "The most recent incarnation of the saying is from hiphop culture, but it originally comes from the gangland or mafia code of “omertá” which dictates silence regarding crimes committed by one’s gang. 'Snitches get stitches' is a slang phrase used by convicts to intimidate people and frighten them into silence." The way we use it now is still similar in ways from when it first came about. This meaning is used to silence people from speaking up when some people are in need. Although when I was younger we used the phrase to keep ourselves out of trouble, it is still used to intimidate people to keep anything that is happening to them to or they may put their self in danger. 

“ᐅ Snitches Get Stitches – Meaning & Origin of the Term.” SlangLang, November 4, 2020. https://www.slanglang.net/snitches-get-stitches.

 

Graphic of the phrase "Knock on Wood", which is typically accompanied by actually knocking on something wooden.

By: Grace Weiberg

An American phrase I chose to research is “knock on wood”. I chose this phrase because I have heard this saying many times and have used it myself. Since hearing this phrase quite often I think it means doing something to not jinx yourself after saying something you do not want to happen. For example, I once said, “I have never broken a bone before”, and then said “knock on wood” afterwards and physically knocked wood because I think I might jinx myself if I do not. After researching the phrase, I have found that there are many different theories behind its meaning. One theory is ancient pagan cultures believed spirits lived in trees and that if you knocked on a tree you would wake up the spirits and they would give you protection. Another theory is people would knock on wood to scare the evil spirits away if they were listening to people about their luck.

The phrase originally meant scaring away evil spirits or waking up good spirits to give you protection. Today it means after you talk about something good in your life you knock on wood to keep your good luck from going bad. The meaning behind “knock on wood” has somewhat of the same meaning as when it was first being used: keeping our good luck. Now we do not believe that spirits are behind the meaning and we do not want to wake them up or chase them away. We “knock on wood” because we think it helps keep our good luck. This phrase says that our culture likes to keep our good luck.

Andrews, E. (2016, August 29). Why do people knock on wood for luck? Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://www.history.com/news/why-do-people-knock-on-wood-for-luck (Links to an external site.)

Why do we knock on wood? (2013, April 16). Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/50079/why-do-we-knock-wood

 

Gift Giving Guide 15: Finding the Best Present for Your Favorite (Budding and/or Established) Anthropologists

 Every year I dedicate two blog posts to something a little different and fun: gifts for the anthropologist.  I attempt to highlight handmade and/or fair trade items as these most closely mirror the values of anthropology in cultural understanding and preservation.  If you happen to know an anthropologist, someone with interests in anthropology, an anthropology major or graduate, or someone who shares these same values feel free to look into one of these amazing gifts.

 

A gift idea for the Cultural Anthropologist

Cultural anthropologists navigate the complicated social worlds that modern humans occupy and exist in.  Sometimes cultural anthropologists derive inspiration for their work through a specific anthropologist.  For those who turn to Zora Neale Hurston this t-shirt may be the perfect gift!  Created by BushwickTrader, it comes in three color options, meaning you have some customizable options!

A gift idea for the Archaeologist

Archaeologists spend their time interpreting the material cultural evidence of the past, which they often collect through thorough and precise excavations.  To better help them accomplish this work perhaps a custom made trowel and trowel sheath (to protect the trowel and the user) is the perfect gift!  TheAnvilandYew shop makes two different sized trowels, providing versatility in your purchase.  The trowel sheath (pictured below) comes separately, and while not required it may make a perfect addition to your special gift.

 Gifts for Linguistic Anthropologists

 Learning about the intersections of language and culture can be exciting, but it also requires sustenance.  This linguistic themed glass may be the perfect thing for the linguistic anthropologist in your life.  Created by RealPeopleGoods they offer a variety of options for this morpheme inspired treat, meaning if you don't want this glass you can get another, or a t-shirt, or something more suited for your gift receiver!  

Gifts for Biological (Physical) Anthropologists

The broadest of the four subfields, encompassing everything biologically related to the human species (and nonhuman primates), it can sometimes be difficult to find the perfect gift for the biological anthropologist.  Regardless of their specific area of interest or expertise perhaps these inspirational signs, quoting renowned primatologist, Jane Goodall, are the right fit!  These pieces are created by the talented MirandaLMcNulty, whose shop has various other options if you need to find something different.