A group of excited students recently visited the University of Georgia’s Anthropology Department for a special field trip, where they got a behind-the-scenes look at real and replica bones, asked questions, and discovered how archaeologists use bones to study the past. UGA Anthropology Professor Dr. Laurie Reitsema, along with undergraduate students Erin Summers and Madison Pickett, taught the class about the fascinating world of bones—from how eye proportions can reveal if an animal was nocturnal to how artists use skulls to find out what someone may have looked like. The visit sparked a love for science and history, showing students how scientists piece together stories from the past, one bone at a time. The kids were amazed as they examined different bones, discovering how each one has a unique story to tell! What Happens When You Skip the Dentist? Students got a close-up look at cavities in teeth and learned how scientists can see the effects of diet and lifestyle in the past. Dr. Laurie Reitsema holds up an ape and a human hand, showing the kids how hands are similar and different across species. Just like a scraped knee, bones can heal too! The kids saw how broken bones fix themselves over time. Like a giant puzzle, the kids put bones together to build a skeleton and see how all the pieces fit! They got "hands-on" experience with history while holding skeleton replicas. Future archaeologists learned about important discoveries like Lucy. Dr. Laurie Reitsema taught them how bones and muscles work together, helping them understand how they can move, jump, and play! Left to right: Erin Summers, Madison Pickett, a future bone hunter, and Dr. Laurie Reitsema.
