By: Cho R. Adolfo

     As science often concerns itself with identifying change over time, archeology allocates a specialty of the physical spaces. Offering more indepth questions such as: How does previous land use provide insight into its future?

     Within Pinnacles National Park, a team of archeologists is seeking to understand the history of a field site through transects, tags, satellite points, and most importantly their eyes. Lugging research equipment through grasses recovering from fire damage, recent UC Berkeley Graduate Marissa Marie Betchelor is amplifying her field skills alongside the support of student volunteers. 

    “We go out and we survey the land to see what artifacts are on the surface”, Betchelor explains. Such items often contain “clay, metal, and glass” she continues.

     With her drive set on conservation and resource management, Betchelor found a window into this work through studying materials from “Analysis of the Archaeological Record” – a UC Berkeley Anthropology course. Led by William White of UC Berkeley’s Anthropology Department, Betchelor comes to the field with rightfully earned confidence. 

     “Everything I learned in class, I am applying it right now in this project!”, she exclaims.

     Through archival research, Batchelor wishes to be part of an ongoing mission in conservation. Waking up early to walk transect lines is a small part of the bigger concern regarding future land use. 

     Their archeological site is connected to the Chalon Indian Nation and Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, and according to Betchelor, “Archeologists have never come out [since the land was obtained by the National Park System]”. While it stands as a historical site, the land contains a chaotic array of artifacts as well as trash. 

     Through uncovering the land’s story, Betchelor, and White’s team is building the road toward community-influenced decision-making. She recounts, “There are a lot more [artifacts] than I thought there was going to be…”. With preservation being a pilar this project, Betchelor is excited about how the team’s data collection will ultimately influence the park’s use of the land. 

     As a lover of hiking and traveling, Betchelor encourages young scientists to get into the field and make connections. From looking at maps in the classroom to flagging the soil, she shows just how rewarding skill application and leadership can be.