Publications
- S. Wilks, L. Louderback, H. Simper & W. Cannon (in review) Geophyte Exploitation in Northern Great Basin: Starch Granule Analysis of Bedrock Metates in Warner Valley, Oregon. American Antiquity: Articles. Accepted, 11/15/2023.
- S. Wilks, S. Paredes, L. A. Louderback (in press) Starch Granule Yields from Open-Air Metates Unaffected by Environmental Contamination. American Antiquity: Reports. Accepted, 11/09/2023.
- S. Wilks & L.A. Louderback (2023). Identification of Starch Granules on Ground Stone Tools Exposed to Fire. Journal of Archaeological Science.
Published, 04/15/2023.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103923 - L. Louderbcak, S. Wilks, N. M. Herzog, G. H. Brown, K.T. Joyce & B. M. Pavlik (2022) Morphometric Identification of Starch Granules from Archaeological Contexts: Diagnostic Characteristics of Seven Major North American Plant Families. Frontiers in Earth Science.
Published, 07/04/2022.
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.897183. - S. L. Wilks, L.A. Louderback & S. A. Boomgarden (2020). Starch Granule Size and Morphology as a Proxy for Water Regime Influence on Zea mays. Ethnobiology Letters. 35-43.
Published, 12/22/2020.
https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.12.1.2021.1725
Research Statement
I am an environmental scientist working in the field of archaeology where I specialize in ethnobotany, archaeobotany, and the paleoecology of North America's Arid West environments. My educational background includes environmental science, plant systematics, geography, and the ways Indigenous communities collect native plants for a variety of uses, including food, medicine, ceremonies/rituals, and material resources.
My research uses botanical residues to explore plant use in archaeological settings. I have examined bedrock milling features in Nevada and Oregon, and ground stone tools from Cowboy Cave, Camel's Back Cave, the Nephi Mounds in Utah, and Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. My dissertation will utilize starch residue analysis to determine the spatial and temporal extent of geophyte use in the human foraging behavior of the northern Great Basin.
Grants, Contracts & Research Gifts
- Modelling Pollen Grain in 3D. PI: Andrea Brunelle. Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund, 08/22/2022 - 02/22/2023. Total project budget to date: $1,300.00
- Identification of Starch Granules on Ground Stone Tools Exposed to Fire. PI: L.A. Louderback. Nevada Archaeological Association, 04/01/2020 - 04/01/2021. Total project budget to date: $1,500.00
Geographical Regions of Interest
- United States of America
Great Basin and Colorado Plataeu.