Fulbright R/L Scholarship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Department of Anthropology
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Fulbright R/L Scholarship at
the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, Department of
Anthropology
Katalin T. Biró
Hungarian National Museum University of Michigan, Department of
Anthropology
H-1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 14-16 1020 LSA Building, 500 South State Street
Hungary Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382
www.hnm.hu http://www.umich.edu
tbk.ace.hu Adviser: John O’Shea
In 2006, I spent three months as a Fulbright visiting scholar at the University of Michigan in
Ann Arbor, in the Department of Anthropology. My primary aim was to gather information
and acquire knowledge on branches of the profession, which are not often practised and are not
even very well known in Hungary, the anthropological aspects of archaeology and archaeological
theory.
In contrast to the traditional European school of archaeology, often referred to as the German
tradition, the anthropological archaeology that is practised in many places in the USA, and which
is centred in Ann Arbor, concentrates more on the application of various sciences: quantitative
methods as well as systematic and ethnological analogies. American prehistory is almost current:
the last hunter/gatherer tribes are still fully functional in some places, and there is a long
coexistence of H/G communities with early agrarian societies, with excellent documentation
including original texts, natives with extended memory, and other elements of the material
247AY 2006-2007
culture not depleted from unfavourable methods were just being introduced in the
conditions of fossilisation. At the same time, field of humanities, notably archaeology1.
the American scope of research is much wider -
in my country, we tend to concentrate only on 1. Scientific program
material in our control and to which we have The primary aim of my visit was to get
access. fresh and first-hand information on
My visiting scholar experiences helped in cultural anthropology and theoretical
bridging communication, presenting available archaeology, subjects that were not
information and resources, and learning the covered by regular archaeological training
methodology of ‘mainstream anthropological in Hungary and both of which have a great
reasoning’. In this respect, my strategy of significance for my personal research
learning, teaching and research together subject, i.e. prehistoric long distance trade.
proved to be most fruitful. My teachers had The Department of Anthropology at Ann
a good understanding of European types of Arbor is known to be particularly strong
research, and they had adequate knowledge on in this field; some of the emblematic
local resources and languages as well as field figures of the subject used to work and
experience. Contact with the graduate students teach there, such as Lesley White, Julian
also helped in establishing lasting connections. Steward, Marshall Sahlins and Lewis
My visit to the Cleveland Museum of Natural Binford. Some of their works have been
History (as well as the Flint Ridge quarries translated into Hungarian or are known to
and historical quarries in the Cuyahoga the Hungarian public from comprehensive
National Park) also contributed to the success articles (BOHANNAN-GLAZER 1997;
of my Fulbright-scholarship. SERVICE–SAHLINS–WOLF 1973;
WHITE 1973). The present generation
In 2006, I was able to spend three months of professors are worthy followers of
as a Fulbright visiting scholar at the this tradition, in research, teaching and
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, in publication activity, as well.
the Department of Anthropology. The I was able to take part in the Graduate
exact timing of my visit was scheduled (PhD) training of the department,
for September 12th to December 16th. auditing three subjects: Analytical Methods
The Department operates as a museum (quantitative methods in archaeology, by
at the same time, together with the R. Whallon), Archaeology I (the cultural
Museum of Natural History, located in anthropology/archaeology of hunter-
the same building, hence the acronym gatherer communities, by John Speth) and
(UMMA - University of Michigan, Archaeological Systematics (central problems
Museum of Anthropology). My work was in theoretical archaeology, by J. O’Shea),
supervised by Professor John O’Shea,
and I have received valuable professional
1 He delivered a lecture and was among the organisers for a special
and personal help from Professor Robert
symposium arranged for the would-be informatic specialists who
Whallon, with whom I have established
work in museums and other institutions of archaeological interest
strong contacts since 1990, when
in the post-socialist countries. The proceedings of this meeting were
computer applications and quantitative
published in Voorips-Ottaway eds. 1990.
248Photo 1. Cuyahoga National Park, historic sandstone quarry with carved millstone
AY 2006-2007 and I delivered for the PhD students a I visited the Museum and some places of special seminar entitled Provenancing – interest like the Cuyahoga National Park tracing long distance movement of goods in close to Cleveland itself and a large flint prehistory, which is related to aspects and mine at Flint Ridge, in the southern part methodology of my own research. of Ohio, as well as the neighbouring large I could use all the facilities of the historical Indian fortress at Newark. (See Department including the incredibly rich Photos 1-4). and well-equipped library. The University library works as an agglomerate of 2. Lectures to general public different technical libraries, with a central Apart from the lectures delivered as part of library building (six floors). The catalogue the seminar at UMMA, I delivered three and a substantial amount of the contents lectures for the general public within my are available in electronic format, and grant time on different subjects and for loans can be initiated from any library different audiences. units, even from your working desk. There The first one was an introductory lecture is a Knowledge Navigation Centre within on my own field of research at the the library where special facilities and Anthropological Museum (Lithic use and personal help are available in all problems distribution over long time spans: examples relating to electronic storage and the from Central Europe). This lecture was handling of documents. Fast scanners delivered in a series called ‘brown are available on a scheduled basis. I was bag meetings’, because it is regularly a regular visitor to the Centre and could scheduled for the middle of the day on ‘audit’ many informal lectures delivered Thursdays, during the lunch break. The by, or to, the Centre staff on individual second lecture specifically addressed tools and equipment. There is a wide the Hungarian community working in variety of periodicals, with full electronic Ann Arbor on the recent achievements access for UM teachers and students. I of Hungarian archaeology, entitled could collect fresh technical literature Hungarian Archaeology at the turn of the on the following subjects: archaeometry, Millennium, based on the monograph prehistoric trade, theoretical archaeology, published in 2003. This work is the first cultural anthropology and methodology. summary of Hungarian archaeology since Within the Fulbrigth grant, it is possible the 19th century, and I was honoured to apply for one visit outside the research to take part in the editorial work, venue as an occasional lecturer (OLP). I contributing some of the chapters myself tried to utilise this possibility for a visit (Visy et al. eds. 2003). to Cleveland, but there was no feedback The third lecture was presented in – by way of either acceptance or rejection Cleveland at the Natural History - and as the lecture was announced and I Museum before an audience of was expected, I went anyway with the help museum professionals. It was entitled of my colleagues. I was received at the Interdisciplinary work in the Hungarian Cleveland Natural History Museum, and Museums. 250
Photo 2. Flint mine at Flint Ridge, southern part of Ohio
251AY 2006-2007 252
Photo 3. Indian fortress and moulds at Newark
253AY 2006-2007
3. Administration 5. Professional and personal
On the day of my arrival I received a contacts
university card that identified me as Before my visit to Ann Arbor I had
full right university citizen not only at professional contacts from UMMA with
my research place but in the whole city. Robert Whallon and my supervisor, John
The university card gives access to free O’Shea, both of them working on research
transport all over the city. Also I could use projects in Eastern Europe (Romania,
the university bank (UM Credit Union). Serbia). They were several times in
Similarly, on the day of my arrival I Hungary as well. Our professional contacts
received a key to the main entrance of the were strengthened and deepened by the
Museum/Department and all premises I Fulbright-grant and we can continue our
had something to do with. Later also got collaboration in many ways in the future.
the key of the department library. It means, I could also establish good contacts with
I could access all the University facilities the staff and the PhD students of the
day and night, including weekends. From Anthropological Department, some of
the first day I was registered also as full them continued via email and personal
right user of the University informatical meetings as well. I am especially grateful
system. This is a very important means to the head of the department, Professor
for teaching, course syllabi, compulsory Carla Sinopoli and my supervisor, John
readings, homework etc. are often stored O’Shea, for their personal help and
and managed through it. kindness, and above all to Robert Whallon
I applied for and received the SSN card who helped me in many ways before and
and communicated about administrative during my grant.
measures to CIES and sent them final About one month after my arrival I could
report after arrival. contact the Hungarian community living
in Ann Arbor. I attended meetings and
4. Fulbright community lectures and could deliver a lecture myself.
The local Fulbrighters organised two I received much professional and personal
meetings during my scholarship time help, especially from Nóra Arató and Éva
(2006/10/11, 2006/12/06). They were Darvas, both of whom we keep regular
also proposing some further social events contacts.
and programs, but probably it needs a I could also revitalise existing former
longer stay to take proper advantage of professional contacts with Joe Hannibal,
those. The second meeting was devoted geologist and palaeontologist of the
to winter solstice and related festivities Cleveland Natural History Museum.
at the communities of different tradition. Several colleagues from Ann Arbor and
It was very interesting to learn about Cleveland promised to turn up in the near
holidays and tradition of various peoples future in Hungary. I was also invited for
and religions. further visits and I hope I will be able to
go back someday.
254Bibliography - Papers presented on the Vth Int. Symp. on
Data Management and Mathematical Methods
in Archaeology, U.I.S.P.P. 4th Commission,
BOHANNAN-GLAZER 1997: Bohannan, Paul S.-- Glazer
Mogilany/Krakov 1989.
Mark, szerk. és bev. Mérföldkövek a kulturális
WHITE 1973: White, Leslie 1973 A kultúra fejlõdése.
antropológiában. Budapest: Panem Kft.
(Szociológiai Füzetek 5). Budapest: Mûvelõdési
SERVICE–SAHLINS–WOLF 1973: Service, E. R.,
Minisztérium Marxizmus-Leninizmus Oktatási
Sahlins, M. D. Wolf E. R. 1973 Vadászok,
Fõosztálya.
törzsek, parasztok. Budapest: Kossuth.
VISY et al. eds. 2003: Visy Zsolt--Nagy Mihály--B. Kiss
Zsuzsa, eds. Hungarian Archaeology at the
(all photos made by Joe Hannibal, Natural
turn of the Millennium MRE In: Visy Zs.ed.,
History Museum, Cleveland)
Magyar Régészet az ezredfordulón / Hungarian
Archaeology at the turn of the Millennium
Budapest
VOORIPS--OTTAWAY ed. 1990: Voorips, A.--Ottaway,
B. S. New tools from mathematical archaeology
Photo 4. Basket company headquarters, Newark
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