Obies:

Clues From the Past, Insights to the Present

The first thing that senior Sarah Kupperberg mentions about herself is that she comes from a "wonderful family," with parents who value everything their children do, who stress that grades are not the only important thing, and who recognize the importance of art and creativity. "I am lucky because I have had a lot of opportunities," she says.

An archeological studies and anthropology major, Kupperberg has frequently been seen dancing on the Oberlin stagedancing is something she has done since age four. Her experience in dance at Oberlin ranges "from being in an opera to dancing butoh [a form of dance-theater that originated in Japan]," and she speaks of dance as a passionate love that "comes from the center of my being."

She also possesses a rich intensity toward her pursuits in archeology and was one of the students who accompanied archeologist and Associate Professor of Art Susan Kane during last summer's excavation at Poggio Colla. The site, in the Mugello Valley in the northeastern part of Tuscany, about 22 miles from Florence, dates from the seventh to the third century B.C. Officially known as the Mugello Valley Archeological Project, the excavations were led by Kane and Gregory Warden of Southern Methodist University.

Kupperberg described how the study of ancient civilizations has made her realize the transience and mutability of life. "It seems so clear to me that the more you know about people who came before you on this land, in this place, the more you will know about yourself and your own weaknesses, how to live better, take better care of children and the land."

An interest in the Mediterranean area had already existed for some time in the back of Kupperberg's mind when she saw posters on campus for the field season at Poggio Colla. "It drew me in from the very beginning. Susan [Kane] was so enthusiastic and nurtured my interest. I wanted to initiate a program of botanical research, learn to collect soil samples through flotation, do water sieving of soil containing botanical remains such as charred seeds and charred wood." This type of research provides insight into what peoples of the past grew and ate, and what plant resources they used.

To prepare for the excavation, Kupperberg spent a day last spring at the University of Pennsylvania to learn how to sieve soil samples. At Poggio Colla, she collected and floated samples with bountiful results: a great amount of charred material which indicated that barley, wheat, horsebeans, chick-peas, and grape seeds were grown in the area. This data corresponds to what has been written about Hellenistic Italy regarding crops and diet. Locating tangible evidence of what was already believed made the excavation productive and rewarding. Other findings from last summer's excavation, such as Greek pottery, indicate that the settlement engaged in sea trade, and that products of Eastern culture had penetrated into central Italy.

Kupperberg's archeological studies focus on landscape archeology and paleoethnobotany, which is a study of the intersection of culture and the plant worldÑin short, how people utilize the living environment and agriculture. "It is the intersection of culture and nature that is really interesting to meÑas soon as intermediaries between nature and culture are gone, culture is subsumed back into natureÑthe world acts as if we were never there. I want to change the way that people think about archeology. I want people to think about it as a living thing, not as sterile. So much of our identity as humans is to know who came before us."

Kupperberg found her time in Italy last summer so rewarding that she hopes to spend a significant amount of time in the Mediterranean in the future. Her research and subsequent analysis resulted in honors at graduation this May. She will return this summer as an assistant supervisor at Poggio Colla.

"Three hours of fieldwork are required for archeology majors, and I think it is so important," she said.

--Amy Beth Schneider '97

Return to the ATS-May/June 1997 Table of Contents