Archaeology Alum Wins Paper Competition
Please join me in a hearty congratulations for Spring 2025 Anthropology graduate Reid Haugen, who has won the Jeanette E. Stephens Student Paper Award sponsored by the Illinois Archaeology Survey. His paper titled “Resistance Isn’t Always Futile: Electrical Resistivity at Historic Nauvoo” draws on geophysical methods, specifically electrical resistivity, to explore buried architectural features at a site of deep historical and religious significance. This work was conducted as part of MSU Moorhead’s experiential field course (ANTH 455 Field Methods in Geoarchaeology) where we collaborated with Historic Nauvoo, IL in summer 2024.
What stands out most about this award is Reid’s commitment to responsible archaeology. He skillfully bridged what he learned in the classroom with his on-the-ground training amongst the community. His attention to the sociopolitical complexities of Nauvoo, IL and the sensitivity required to conduct archaeological work in active heritage spaces demonstrates maturity beyond his years. Reid’s project not only adds to the body of archaeological knowledge, but also models how student-led archaeological research can be responsive to the needs and values of living communities. Congratulations Reid and to the geoarchaeology students who helped him collect the data for this paper!
Reid Haugen is currently enrolled in the Applied Archaeology Masters program at Indiana University Pennsylvania.