Bones here. Bones there. Everywhere bones.

Stacked on tables. Packed into boxes.

Measured. Analyzed. Weighed.

Dr. Jeff Blick converted his office into a lab to provide resources and workspace to students researching archaeology and anthropology.

“It’s mainly an animal osteology lab, but we do have the capability to analyze human bones as well,” said Blick, Professor of Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Students interested in archaeology or anthropology are encouraged to take advantage of the new Archaeology & Physical Anthropology Lab in Terrell Hall, room 122.

The lab offers hands-on experience to students minoring in anthropology and welcomes all students.

Student assistants and independent study students with interests in archaeology, animal bones, stone artifacts, and other artifacts are needed for various projects.

Students also can participate in human osteometry and craniometry training in preparation to analyze the skeletal structure of humans.

Blick is anticipating the arrival of new rocks and bones: a large collection of arrowheads and stone tools from Virginia and animal bones from the Caribbean.

Currently Blick and a number of students are working on the origins of the domestic dog.

Reconstruction of the bones of the dogs can lead to estimates on their weight and size.

Blick and his assistants are extracting dog teeth for Dr. Robert Wayne, a specialist in canine DNA at University of California, Los Angeles.

“DNA analysis will be able to determine genetic factors,” said Blick. “We’ll know more when we look at a greater number of the dogs. Some suspect deformations on their skeletons may be due to carrying packs, but I believe they may be due to the medical condition age-degenerative osteoporosis, similar to Dowager’s Hump.”

For more information, please email Blick at jeff.blick@gcsu.edu.