Frank Calabrese-Gavay
Program Entrance
2023
Advisor
Kevin McBride
Research Interests
Primarily the archaeology and culture of Native North America, with a focus on the Northeast/New England.
About
What sparked your interest in Anthropology/Archaeology
Growing up, I was very interested with Ancient Egypt and all things Egyptology. The archaeological digs are what fascinated me the most, uncovering the past for the eyes of the present and the future to see. When I got to college, I took those early interests and explored anthropology as a whole. In time, I came to understand that this was the area of study that I would like to pursue for a very long time. Being able to tell the holistic story of humanity – and doing so through an archaeological, and cultural, lens – is something that I am very passionate about.
Where are you/will you be conducting your research/fieldwork?
My area of research/fieldwork, on a large scale, would be North America. More specifically, the northeast/New England region.
What do you find most interesting about your field work/research location?
I think that having an area of interest centralized to North America, with a specific interest in the Northeast, it really helps me better understand the areas in which I grew up and the places I visited.
What is your most memorable experience in the field so far, or most memorable lesson learned?
Though not a lesson in the traditional sense, something that has been instilled in me throughout my anthropology classes is that patience truly makes a difference in the long run. There are certain processes that cannot be rushed –whether it be in the field on an archaeological dig, or in the classroom. Moving too quickly does not always mean that the task at hand will be done accurately.
What do you do in your downtime? Share something interesting about yourself!
It really depends on the day! Sometimes I go into a music mindset and just jam on my guitar, bass or drums. Other times I go into a motorsport mindset and do some casual sim-racing online. If my friends are free, we might plan a trip to NYC or cruise around Southwestern CT.
