Graduate Student, Archaeology
Thesis Title: Skriðuklaustur: A Late Medieval Priory-Hospital in Iceland
About
My thesis project is on the infirmary at the Augustinian monastery of Skriðuklaustur, a late medieval (1493-1554) monastic institution located in eastern Iceland. The purpose of this research is to gain another perspective on how the medieval Catholic institution was interpreted in Iceland. This research project will be approached by working off of the question: What kind of medical care was available during the medieval period? What was the monastic hospitality obligation? What kind of medical care was administered within monasteries to brethren and the secular community? The research will be conducted by comparing the Skriðuklaustur infirmary with two English monastic infirmaries: The Augustinian Priory of St. Mary Merton in Surrey and the Priory and Hospital of St. Mary Spital in London. The questions will be pursued by reviewing written historical documents, analyzing the location and architectural layout of monastic infirmaries and the artifacts associated with the medical profession that have been identified in written sources and from archaeological excavations. Information from burials at these monasteries will be used as well where the age, gender and types of health conditions that have been identified from the human remains may reveal evidence of the practices and level of care administered at the infirmary.
This research of the Skriðuklaustur infirmary will be used to develop the framework for the second stage, long term research of the island of Grímsey where an Augustinian monastery was established during the medieval period.
Experience and Education background:
In 1994, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology at Kansas State University and in 2005 I received my Master of Arts degree in Anthropology at California State University Fullerton (CSUF). In between those years I have traveled throughout the United States working on archaeological projects for different organizations such as the US Forest Service in Nevada, the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Historic Preservation Office and Museum Archaeology Program, the University of Indiana, Terre Haute, the South Central Coastal Information Center at CSU Fullerton and independent Cultural Resource Management (CRM) firms. Up until August 2010, I conducted archaeological studies for CRM projects throughout Southern California for ICF International, an environmental consulting firm in Los Angeles, California. My master’s thesis at CSU Fullerton was influenced by my career in CRM. I discussed the development of the North American archaeological discipline, the advent of CRM and the role of public education and outreach within archaeology. As part of my thesis I designed an archaeological field school for people with physical disabilities based upon the San Juan Capistrano Mission.
Member of:
Register of Professional Archaeologists
ID Number: 15534
http://www.rpanet.org/
