Rebekah Zinser - About Me

I am a seasoned archaeologist with over twenty years of archaeological experience including teaching, fieldwork, laboratory and project direction, artifact analysis and illustration, technical report writing, and map and graphic production.

Additionally, I have almost twenty years of experience with editing and digital reproduction of artifacts, site profiles and maps, and digital illustration of artifacts and burials, using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

My background includes a focus on human burial excavation, analysis, and illustration, as well as analysis of faunal remains, which makes me especially qualified to work with images of sensitive burial remains.

Owner, Operator, and Digital Illustrator, Archaeology Imaging Services; Encinitas, CA — 2022-present

I create publishable quality digital illustrations from photographs of artifacts, burials and site features. I also edit and digitally reproduce images of artifacts, site profiles and maps.

Research Assistant and Graphic Artist for Dr. Christopher Carr, Professor of Anthropology, Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ — 2004-2022

I captured and edited images of archaeological artifacts and maps, and digitally illustrated previously photographed artifacts and burials in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. My images have been included in multiple books, articles, and lectures.

My work has been archived at the Ohio Historical Society, so that other may utilize these images to further the study of Hopewell archaeology. Many of the burials and artifacts I edited or illustrated have either never been published or were too sensitive to publish.

Other Employment Experience:

Associate Professor of Anthropology, Ashford University; San Diego, CA — 2012-2014

I taught Introduction to Cultural anthropology in a fully online forum. This included writing lectures and course guidance, which I then completely re-wrote when the course was revised and a new textbook was adopted.

I also led chat-room style discussions, asking questions that caused the student to think about perspectives in anthropology; and graded papers, discussions and exams.

Project Director/Human Osteologist/Faunal Analyst, Northland Research, Inc.; Tempe, AZ — 2007-2009

As a project director I conducted surveys, archival research, project and permit compliance, monitoring, testing and data recovery at archaeological sites throughout Arizona, as well as authored or co-authored over a dozen technical reports.

As the company’s human osteologist I performed excavation and analysis of human remains, and authored or co-authored technical reports, examining disease and nutrition, demographics, and mortuary practices. I also assisted with repatriation of human remains to local Native American tribes, in accordance with NAGPRA and Tribal laws.

As a faunal analyst I performed excavation and analysis of faunal remains, animal burials, and bone tools, and authored or co-authored numerous technical reports, discussing animal consumption and usage, burial treatment and disease.

Lab Director/Associate Archaeologist, Archaeological Research Services, Inc.; Tempe, AZ — 2007

As an associate archaeologist I performed cultural resource surveys, archival research, cartography and graphics preparation, monitoring, and testing and data recovery. I also authored or co-authored technical reports.

As Lab Director I was responsible for all aspects of project and permit compliance and curation, and assisted with shutting down the company when owner retired.

Teaching Assistant, Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ — 2005-2006

I assisted with Women of Other Cultures, Taught by Dr. Elizabeth Brandt, as well as Prehispanic Civilizations of Middle America, Taught by Dr. Ben Nelson.

I wrote and presented multiple lectures, and led weekly discussion sessions. I also wrote exams, and graded exams and papers, and held office and lab hours to assist students.

Research Assistant, La Quemada Malpaso Valley Archaeological Project, Arizona State University; Zacatecas, Mexico — Summer 2005

I worked in the Zacatecas field lab on collections already recovered from the site of La Quemada. I analyzed, catalogued and organized human and faunal remains. Much of my research was utilized for my Master’s thesis.

Field Technician, Chacalilla Archaeological Project, Arizona State University; Nayarit, Mexico — Summer 2005

I conducted site survey, mapping using GPS, surface collections and analysis on a recently discovered archaeological site. I also performed laboratory analysis of surface collections, including shell, ceramics, stone and bone.

Head Student Curator, Archaeology Archives, University of California Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, CA — 2000-2002

I ran day-to-day functions of the archival collections facility, which contained Native American and historical artifacts from the Santa Cruz area. I was responsible for overseeing the cataloging and curation of artifacts, and I also monitored the borrowing or repatriation of artifacts and supervised volunteer student curators.