GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Archaeologist and collections assistant Nicole Cannarozzi was recently appointed collections manager of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s environmental archaeology program.
Cannarozzi originally started at the Florida Museum in 2004 as a faunal analyst after graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. She’s worked with the museum in various positions over the past 14 years and is presently a UF anthropology doctoral student.
“The museum is one of the reasons I’ve stayed in Gainesville,” said Cannarozzi, who was hired into her current position in March. “I’ve been lucky to work in one of the best zooarchaeology labs in the country.”
Cannarozzi said she wants to focus on outreach, with a goal of recruiting more volunteers and participating in museum-sponsored and external events to expose more people to environmental archaeology.
“I’m very happy, it’s my dream job,” Cannarozzi said. “I really like the integrated nature of the museum where you have many departments and disciplines under one roof. That kind of atmosphere fosters communication and collaboration that is so important for our research.”
The Florida Museum environmental archaeology program was established in 1961. Its researchers use soil and animal and plant remains from archaeological sites to better understand past human interactions with the natural environment.
For more information on the environmental archeology program, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/envarch.