SARA RICKETT portrait
  • Graduate Research Assist (RA), Anthropology Department

Research Summary

My research is focused on dietary reconstruction through starch analysis, with current applications in both the Great Basin and the South Pacific, particularly Tonga. By analyzing plant microfossils from artifact residues, I aim to uncover the dietary habits and subsistence strategies of ancient populations, providing insights into their ecological adaptations and cultural practices.

Education

  • Associates, Anthropology, College of Southern Nevada
  • Bachelor's Degree, Anthropology, Northern Arizona University
  • Master of Science, Anthropology, University of Utah. Project: A Morphometric Analysis of Starch Granules from Two Dioscorea Species

Biography

I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and spent as much time as possible exploring the Mojave and Great Basin. Over the past ten years, I have worked for several federal agencies and private companies as a field archaeologist. Now I’m pursuing a PhD. to better understand how humans and plants have interacted in challenging environments.