- Team Sports, I play on a nationally ranked Camogie team and it is a passion of mine
- Getting involved in local advocacy groups to promote positive change in the community I love working community events, particularly advocating for underprivileged groups
- Photography
Kaitlyn McCleese
Henrico
Summary
Archaeology professional with robust background in excavation and artifact analysis, consistently delivering accurate and insightful results. Collaborative team member known for adaptability and effective problem-solving. Proficient in field survey methods and archaeological data interpretation.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Crew Chief
Timmons Group
Richmond, VA
09.2024 - Current
- Supervised projects day to day, managing budget and tight deadlines while still adhering to appropriate archaeological survey individual to project and site requirements.
- Completed OSHA 30 training
- supervised on projects including phase 1a, prehistoric and historic phase I, and II survey, site monitoring, leading powerline, solar, and data center projects including more, while adhering to requirements and maintaining a good relationship with clients in difficult situations.
- Collected and recorded archaeological data, artifacts, and materials for subsequent analysis and interpretation.
- Coordinates and oversees laboratory-processing activities, to include cleaning, reconstruction, classification, and cataloguing of artifacts.
- Provides functional guidance and leadership to technical staff in areas of specialty, such as faunal, lithic, and/or ceramic analysis. At Timmons, I have helped with cemetery delineations , monitoring, and recovery on sites where human remains were disturbed, working with Tribal affiliates to make sure the work completed satisfied all parties.
- Ensures the application of safe work practices by crew members during survey/excavation projects. I am very passionate about field safety and always put the crew first.
- Ensures timely completion of fieldwork and project reports. Assisted in coauthoring reports at Timmons Group.
- Used mapping software and tools like GPS units to accurately map sites including cemeteries and earthworks.
Archaeological Field Technician
Dutton and Associates
Richmond, VA
05.2023 - 09.2024
- Conducted site surveys to identify and document archaeological features and artifacts.
- Assisted in excavation processes, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and preservation standards.
- Collaborated with team members to interpret data and produce comprehensive field reports.
- Ensured compliance with relevant regulations by adhering to established guidelines for artifact recovery and site documentation.
- Utilized VCRIS system
Collections Intern, Collections Assistant
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C.
09.2019 - 03.2020
- My experience with the Smithsonian Institution began as an Intern, conducting a survey of the late Dennis Stanford Collection and Library.
- While in this role I received archival training, worked with a broad collection of historic books and paleolithic artifacts, and preserved and cataloged artifacts within and without the Smithsonian museum system to ensure their return to their proper institutions.
- I scanned, copied, and digitized documents related to Stanford's legacy into the Smithsonian's digital collection, working with both the Archaeological, Archival, and Library Departments.
- I returned to this project after my internship had concluded as the scope of the project was larger and more complex than expected. My performance led to a temporary position.
- During this period I worked as a liaison between the Stanford Collection and the Smithsonian Libraries to negotiate which documentation would be cataloged, and how to best incorporate these items into collections.
Intern, Collections Manager
National Park Service
Appomattox, Va
01.2018 - 08.2018
- Similarly to my time at the Smithsonian, I began at the NPS as an Intern and was later hired by their collections manager.
- As an Intern, I received Park Service training and passed the National Park Service Ranger Exam.
- My time as a park employee involved giving educational tours and demonstrations, a highlight of which was presenting in the McClean house during the 150th anniversary of Lee's Surrender, of which 25,000 people attended.
- I gained experience in very high stress, hectic environments as we averaged 7,000 visitors a day within the house during the event.
- I later returned with Collections to maintain historical artifacts, machinery and buildings.
- Another aspect of this job was digitizing prints, slides and transcribing archival letters donated by Liberty University for inclusion within online historical databases.
Historical Interpreter
American Civil War Museum
Appomattox, Va
09.2015 - 05.2020
- While at ACWM, I had the privilege of educating and communicating with a diverse array of visitors of all ages through artifacts and photographs within the collection.
- I developed lesson plans which adhered to Virginia Dept. Education guidelines for students and discussed complex topics related to the American Civil War with groups of 40+ at a time.
- These topics included military history, Virginia history and geography, firearms, the experience of enslaved and freed communities, homefront, and medical history.
- I conducted tours and taught in classroom settings, and had the opportunity to work in an original 18th century structure where I engaged in period accurate cooking classes, farming, gardening, and homemaking to display everyday life in that era.
- A large aspect of my job involved handling artifacts and performing demonstrations of how those objects would have been used to visitors of all ages and nationalities.
- I also received archival and office administration experience working with visitor services, including inventory, ordering stock, program design and event planning.
Education
Master's Degree - Bioarchaeology Specialty in Mortuary Archaeology
George Mason University
Fairfax, Va12-2022
Bachelor's Degree - Archaeology and Anthropology
Longwood University
Farmville, Va05-2019
No Degree - Archaeology
Dr. James W. Jordan Archaeological Field School, Longwood University
Farmville, Va08-2018
Skills
- Crew leadership in Phases I and II
- Performance improvements
- Training and mentoring
- Quality control guidelines, OSHA 30
- Technical problem solving
- Historical Research
- Scientific Writing
- Laboratory Methods and Archival Work
- VCRIS
- Historic archaeology
- Prehistoric archaeology
- Osteoarchaeology knowledge
- Bioarchaeology
Interests
Timeline
Crew Chief
Timmons Group
09.2024 - Current
Archaeological Field Technician
Dutton and Associates
05.2023 - 09.2024
Collections Intern, Collections Assistant
Smithsonian Institution
09.2019 - 03.2020
Intern, Collections Manager
National Park Service
01.2018 - 08.2018
Historical Interpreter
American Civil War Museum
09.2015 - 05.2020
Master's Degree - Bioarchaeology Specialty in Mortuary Archaeology
George Mason University
Bachelor's Degree - Archaeology and Anthropology
Longwood University
No Degree - Archaeology
Dr. James W. Jordan Archaeological Field School, Longwood University