I worked alongside Dr. Gerad Smith and conducted geological dating tests at Mentasta Pass Dune and Tok Delta Fan in Interior Alaska, gaining hands-on experience with the methods used to establish chronological and environmental context for archaeological research in the area. Working across these landscapes strengthened my understanding of how sedimentary processes, landform development, and geological dating can help reconstruct past environments and interpret human activity through time. This experience expanded my interest in geoarchaeology and reinforced the importance of combining archaeological and geological approaches when investigating the early human history of Interior Alaska. 

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This experience also reinforced the importance of combining archaeological and geological approaches when investigating the early human history of Interior Alaska. It also complemented my archaeological fieldwork at the Carpenter Site by giving me a broader understanding of the landscapes surrounding archaeological sites and the processes that shape, preserve, and interpret them. Working alongside Dr. Smith made the experience especially enjoyable and memorable, and it helped solidify my interest in archaeological science, landscape archaeology, and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the past.