Nicholas Gonzalez

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Program Entrance

2022

Advisor

Natalie Munro

Research Interests

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

About

What sparked your interest in Anthropology/Archaeology?

Old National Geographic magazines and the Discovery Channel sparked my interest in the world’s cultures, while early museum visits fed a growing fascination with human evolution.

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 Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene humans on Mediterranean islands adapted their subsistence strategies, and in their interactions with large carnivores.

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

A few highlights: In 2022, I uncovered an intact fox skull at Nahal Ein Gev II (Israel). In 2023, I found multiple bear teeth at Hohle Fels and helped excavate fossilized elephant footprints at Schöningen (Germany). I also enjoyed excavating in Sicily in the summer of 2024. Most recently, I really enjoyed doing some lab work in Sicily and Greece in the spring and summer of 2025.

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

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me reading in the sun, touching grass, and spending time with friends – sometimes all at the same time.