Carolyn Freiwald, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Anthropology

Carolyn Freiwald is a bioarchaeologist who studies migration and diet in Mesoamerica, with a specialty in the use of isotope geochemistry. Her research shows how common migration was in the past, and that women and children - as well as men - migrated between Maya cities 1300 years ago. She continues to explore ancient migrant experiences, including how people prepared food in Classic-period Maya homes. Her current project focuses on sopa de jute (snail soup) and how families organize food production and manage local animal populations and the environment. She earned her PhD in anthropology at UW-Madison and collaborates with the UW-Madison Zoological Museum on studies of human-animal-environment interactions.

Gender Studies -Related Research Interests: The roles of men, women, and children in food production