Elizabeth McMahon
Contributing Writer
As the new semester rolls in, so do new professors like Dr. Emily Sharp. Sharp graduated from Arizona State University in 2022 with a Ph.D. in Bioarcheology and spent multiple years excavating in the Andes of Peru. This year, she joined the Anthropology Department at Sewanee.
Teaching Anthropology and Archeology
Although this may be her first year teaching at Sewanee, Dr. Sharp has taught a course as a graduate student at Arizona State University. In addition, after receiving her doctorate, co-taught classes.
Defining Moments in Becoming an Archeologist
Like many undergraduates who are undecided or change majors, Dr. Sharp did not enter Vanderbilt University knowing that she wanted to study archeology. In fact, she initially intended on entering Medical School after she graduated but changed her mind after taking a biological anthropology course in her second semester of her first year. After she took that class, Dr. Sharp said she “fell in love with [anthropology and archeology] basically.” After that initial class, Dr. Sharp continued to take more and more courses under the guidance of Dr. Tiffany Tung.
Excavating in the Andes
At Vanderbilt, Dr. Tung invited Dr. Sharp to participate in an excavation in the Peruvian Andes —an opportunity that altered the trajectory of her professional career. “Going to Peru and assisting with her research projects and being on the first excavation project was like ‘Wow, this is what I really want to do ’ Dr. Sharp said. She was captivated by the warmth and welcoming culture of people in the Peruvian community as well as the spectacular finds they were able to excavate over the course of the project. After that initial experience, Dr. Sharp continued her research in the Andes for her dissertation on studying the health, identity, and social change in the native communities of the Americas. Through her excavations, she was able to discover the link between warfare and climate change as well as how its effects are more drawn out rather than immediate.
The Most Impactful Excavation
For her dissertation, Dr. Sharp returned once more to the Andes to conduct a research project, but this time co-directing with archeologists Dr. Denise Herrera and Dr. Beth Grávalos. Although this was not her first excavation, Dr. Sharp said that this experience was significant because it was the first time she and her colleagues had led a project. We had to learn the basics like getting grant money, getting permits from the Peruvian government, [and] getting permission from the local community.” She was no longer just a participant in the field, but a leader.. Through this experience, Dr. Sharp was able to learn how to efficiently run her own excavation and lay her own groundwork. Although there were many tedious tasks, the project’s outcome was worth the effort. Dr. Sharp recounted how she “worked every day with the local community and had a couple students come out. That was about three months doing these excavations and then six months of lab work, and we co-created this museum [exhibition] in the local museum.” Many community members who assisted in this excavation as well as the public showed up to view their ancestors’ past becoming alive once more.
Lessons in Archeology
While working in the field, Dr. Sharp said she not only learned a lot about archeology , but also lessons about life. Cooperating is the most important skill for teamwork, and adaptability is essential, especially in a foreign country. “Studying the ancient human past and the millennia that we have existed, it really does show how humans have successfully survived and evolved through cooperating and through groups,” Dr. Sharp said. “The emphasis is really on adapting to different environments or political contexts or personal crises; you need to rely on other people.”