Luther junior researches geophysical surveying

Geophysical surveying is being used this summer to study the prehistoric Oneota site and Effigy Mounds in northeastern Iowa. Through her summer research project, Anna Luber, Luther College junior of Peosta, Iowa, is exploring these sites through geophysical surveying to provide a look into their structures without physically digging them up.

Luber, the daughter of Dave and Toni Luber of Peosta, is a 2016 graduate of Western Dubuque High School. She is majoring in anthropology at Luther.

Luber is partnered with Linh Luong, Luther sophomore, for the research project. The pair are working with Colin Betts, Luther professor of anthropology, on their project, “Multi-instrumental geophysical survey of two prehistoric earthwork sites in Northeast Iowa.”

Luber and Luong are studying the prehistoric Oneota and Effigy Mounds sites to obtain details on how and why these sites were used in the past. The pair can also gain insight into the locations of previous excavations of these sites through their research.

Luber stated, “This research is important because it can show us how people lived here before or at the time of the first European settlers, and it can help us expand our knowledge of the history of the area we live in now.”

Luber, Luong and Betts’ collaboration is one of 30 summer student-faculty research projects funded through Luther’s College Scholars Program and Dean’s Office. The Student-Faculty Summer Research projects provide students an opportunity to research topics of interest alongside Luther faculty. This program is one of a wide selection of experiential learning opportunities that are part of Luther’s academic core and intend to deepen the learning process.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,050, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: http://www.luther.edu.