Living my dream

Wendy Layco, CSU-LA

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I am an undergraduate student at Cal State Los Angeles majoring in anthropology. I was born to Filipino immigrant parents in Los Angeles, CA, but spent most of my childhood in Portland, OR before returning to Southern California. I was introduced to the field of archaeology by my third grade teacher, Ms. Schnacky. I was instantly mesmerized by the ability to study past humans through their material culture. I saw it as a form of time travel, with the ability to bring historic cultures to life. Fascinated by the adventure and mystery behind it, I have always had a sense of wonder and urgency to reconstruct the past as accurately as possible. The sense of wonder hasn’t faded. I currently participate in the Society for Biological Anthropology and the Society for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies. I also volunteer in the California Coastal Archaeology Laboratory examining and analyzing artifacts and ecofacts. I have also spent time in the Forensic Anthropology Laboratory organizing and analyzing osteological remains, which will help me with my research.
            In spring quarter, I enrolled in ANTH 485: Archaeological Analysis. We focused on principles, goals, and methodologies of archaeological analysis and interpretation. During the course, my group sorted and analyzed lithic materials from San Nicolas Island. We created and presented a poster comparing the types of material and technology available at CA-SNI-40 Loci A and B. This experience provided me the opportunity to exercise basic methods and understanding of hands-on collections of data, as well as analyze and interpret prehistoric behavior and technology. The ability to make inferences about human behaviors and subsistence strategies based on patterns was just exhilarating to me. It was as if each of these materials were telling me a story from a prehistoric past.
            This year, I’ve started working with the GABRIELA Women’s Party, a nationwide network of grassroots organizations that address issues such as human rights, poverty, and globalization. GABRIELA has been working diligently to create awareness on the unfair treatment of the indigenous Lumad farmers of Kidapawan, Philippines. Since the Ifugao Archaeological Project is partnered with the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement, I believe that the work we do this summer will expand my reach in supporting indigenous heritage conservation for the indigenous in the Philippines.
My goal in archaeology has always been to conduct research in the Philippines. My winning a spot on the National Science Foundation – Research for Undergraduates funded Ifugao Archaeological Project this summer was a dream come true.  My research into Philippine history has shown me that much changed during Spanish colonization. I am particularly fascinated with the concept of pericolonialism and hope that my research into neonatal jar burials and supine child burials will provide more insight into the indirect effects of Spanish colonialism on the burial practices. Based on the idea of pericolonialism, we know that human behaviors are changing. If these changes occurred, I theorize that when the Spanish came to the Philippines, major shifts in social, economic, and subsistence strategies occurred. Population increase in the highlands, wet-rice agricultural intensification, and changes in social organization were just a few of the changes that occurred as a result of indirect Spanish influence. I hypothesize that burial practices during that time period shifted as well, because not only did the subsistence and demographics change, but also their social organization. It is my hope that this analysis of neonatal jar burials and supine child burials will provide more evidence of the pericolonial influence with regards to these burial practices.
           I have long been interested in Philippine archaeology and am excited to return to the Philippines. In my first year at Cal State L.A., I have been inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society, as well as the LAMBDA Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society. I hope to use my research experience this summer to begin the process of becoming a professional archaeologist by presenting at professional meetings and moving into a doctoral program.
           In just a couple of weeks, I will be in my motherland, doing the work I have dreamt about for years. I absolutely cannot wait!