Student News

Fellowships and Awards

Kevin Cullen received the 2007 Ritzenthaler Museum Research Internship Award. He worked with Dawn Scher Thomae in the Milwaukee Public Museum Department of Anthropology this spring on the Iranian ceramics from Amlash.

Ceramics from Ancient Iran at the Milwaukee Public Museum

The research project focused on an outstanding collection of Iranian ceramic artifacts spanning at least six thousand years. A subset of the collection from the Early Iron Age (ca. 1200-800 BCE) was acquired by the MPM primarily in the 1960s. These ceramic vessels from the site of Amlash in Northwestern Iran were the main focus of the project. Most of the vessels are in excellent condition, characterized by intricate sculptural detail and great technical skill, a testament to the socio-religious ethos of this little known culture. The main stylistic motifs were inspired by animals, including birds, rams, deer and bulls, while most common shapes are spouted pitchers and decorative bowls. The project resulted in a web page for the MPM on its invaluable Iranian ceramic collection (URL here) that will constitute a valuable resource for domestic and international audiences of academics as well as non-academics. Some of this material also was presented to the general public during MPM's annual "Behind the Scenes" event and during the "Celebrations of Arab Culture" week, both aimed at facilitating greater appreciation of ancient Iran and balancing current perceptions of this country. Allowing the public to view some of these artifacts enhanced their museum experience by bringing them into close contact with exceptionally beautiful and rare pottery. This research internship was a mutually beneficial endeavor, which strengthened the student's personal and professional development, as well as elucidating a unique MPM collection for both institutional and public enrichment.

Student Internship Projects:

Lacandon Maya Collection
Elizabeth Handwerk, UW-Milwaukee Anthropology and Museum Studies graduate student, 2006

Aztalan Collection
Kurt A. Sampson, UW-Milwaukee Anthropology graduate student, 2006

Lake Amatitlán, Guatemala Collection
Jeralyn Gasper, UW-Milwaukee Anthropology and Museum Studies graduate student, 2006

Current student internships:

Lindsay Barone, Cable Natural Historical Museum (exhibit internship)

Andy Bloedorn, Olmsted Historical Society, Minnesota

Carrie Haugen, Madison Veteran's Museum

Paul Johnson, Language program in Mexico, National Railroad Museum (internship)

Alexis Jordan, Anasazi State Park, Utah

Kristen Matlick, Vesterheim Norwegian Museum, Iowa

Sarah Mikulecky, Harley-Davidson Archives

Rebecca Oestrich, Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum, Oregon

K.C. Smith, MPM Anthropology (exhibit internship)

Carson Solem, Old World Wisconsin and Pabst Mansion

Wendy Tatzel, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Grohmann Collection

Kathryn Terpstra, Heritage Hill and Sheyboygan Historical Society