Nicholas Gonzalez

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Program Entrance

2022

Advisor

Natalie Munro

Research Interests

Mediterranean island archaeology, Paleolithic Greece and Sicily, zooarchaeology, human evolution, human behavioral ecology, taxonomy, subsistence strategies, paleoecology, taphonomy, and site formation processes.

About

Where are you/will you be conducting your research/fieldwork?

I work in Greece and Sicily. I focus on the zooarchaeology of Mediterranean islands.

What do you find most interesting about your field work/research location?

I’m interested in how people adapted to glacial periods, how they endured extreme environmental stress, and why they regarded Mediterranean islands as safe refuges during these times.

What is your most memorable experience in the field so far, or most memorable lesson learned?

There are a few. In 2022, I uncovered an intact fox skull at Nahal Ein Gev II in Israel. Another highlight was in 2023 at Hohle Fels, where I kept finding bear teeth. Lastly, at Schöningen in 2023, I had the opportunity to help excavate some fossilized elephant footprints.

What do you do in your downtime? Share something interesting about yourself!

I like to read in the sun, and I also like to bake cookies sometimes.