Rachel Kalisher
Updated on 2.23.2023
ORCiD: 0000-0002-7765-2352
EDUCATION
| 2023 (Exp) | Ph.D., Archaeology, Brown University Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World Advisor: Andrew Scherer |
| 2022 (Exp) | Sc.M., Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Brown University |
| 2017 | M.A., Human SKeletal Biology, New York University Thesis: Beyond Diet: Using Dental Wear to Explore Iron Age IIA Philistine Lifestyle Committee: Shara Bailey, Timothy Bromage, Pam Crabtree |
| 2015 | B.A., Anthropology; Classical Civilizations, University of Florida Thesis: Patterns in Death: A Re-Evaluation of Middle Bronze Age Burial Customs at Tel Megiddo |
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
| In review | Amir, A., Kalisher, R., Cradic, M.S.C., Martin, M.A.S., Neumann, R., Gadot, Y., Finkelstein, I. “Wine offerings in intramural burials at Middle Bronze Age Megiddo.” Archaeometry. |
| In review | Kleiman, A., Hall, E., Kalisher, R., Dunseth, Z.C., Sapir-Hen, L., Homsher, R.S., Adams, M.J. and Finkelstein, I. “Crisis in motion: The final days of Iron Age I Megiddo.” Levant. |
| 2023 | Kalisher, R., Cradic, M.S., Martin, M.A.S., Adams, M.J., Finkelstein, I. “A social perspective on surgical care in the ancient past: A case study from Tel Megiddo, Israel”. PLOS One. |
| 2023 | Cerrito, P., Hu, B., Kalisher, R., Bailey, S.E., Bromage, T.G. “Life history in primate teeth is revealed by changes in major and minor element concentrations measured via field-emission SEM-EDS analysis.” Biology Letters. |
| 2022 | Cerrito, P., Hu., B., Goldstein, J., Kalisher, R., Bailey, S.E., Bromage, T.G. “Elemental composition for primary lamellar bone differs between parous and nulliparous rhesus macaque females.” PLOS One. |
| 2021 | Cerrito, P., Cerrito, L., Hu, B., Bailey, S.E., Kalisher, R., Bromage, T. “Weaning, parturitions and illness are recorded in Rhesus Macaque (M. mulatta) dental cementum microstructure.” American Journal of Primatology e23235. |
| 2020 | Agrant-Tamir, L,… Kalisher, R.,… Pinhasi, R., Carmi, S., Finkelstein, I, Carmel, L, Reich, D. A Genomic History of the Canaanites. Cell 181 (5): 1146-1157. doi: 10.1016/j/cell.2020.04.024 |
EDITED VOLUME CHAPTERS
| In press | Kalisher, R. “The Human Skeletal Remains from Burial 16/H/45.” In, Megiddo VII: Decoding Death, the Shmunis Family Foundation’s Investigation of Two Elite Bronze Age Tombs. Eds. Cradic, M.S.C., Adams, M.J., Martin, M.A.S., Finkelstein, I. Monograph Series of the Institute of Archaeology, Tel Aviv University. Eisenbrauns. |
| In press | Kalisher, R. “The Human Skeletal Remains from Tomb 50.” In: Cradic, M.S.C., Adams, M.J., Martin, M.A.S., Finkelstein, I., eds., Megiddo VII: Decoding Death, the Shmunis Family Foundation’s Investigation of Two Elite Bronze Age Tombs (Monograph Series of the Institute of Archaeology). Tel Aviv University Press, Eisenbrauns. |
| 2022 | Martin, M.A.S., Cradic. M.S.C., Kalisher, R. “Area K: Intramural Pit and Jar Burials.” In: Finkelstein, I. and Martin, M.A.S., eds., Megiddo VI: The 2010-2014 Seasons (Monograph Series of the Institute of Archaeology). Tel Aviv. |
| 2021 | Dunseth, Z.C. and Kalisher, R. “Food Spoilage.” In, The Handbook to Food in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel. Eds. Fu, J., Shafer-Elliot, C., and Meyers, C. T & T Clark, pp. 267-294. |
INVITED TALKS
| 2022 | “Disease in Antiquity” for course, Archaeological Method and Theory, at Reed University (Nov. 16). |
| 2021 | “Bioarchaeology” for course, World Archaeology, at California Institute of Technology (April 20). |
| 2021, 22 | “Human Osteology and Paleopathology” for course, Pandemics, Pathogens, and Plagues in the Greek and Roman Worlds, at Brown University (September 17). |
| 2020 | “STEM in the Humanities: Interdisciplinarity as a Research Strength” for course, Communicating the Sciences, at University of Rhode Island (February 12). |
| 2019 | “Human Osteology in Archaeology” for course, Biological Anthropology Methods, at California State University Long Beach (November 25). |
| 2019 | “Introduction to Bioarchaeology” for course, Field Archaeology in the Ancient World, at Brown University (October 30). |
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
| 2023 | Brown University: Instructor of Record ANTH 1720: The Human Skeleton (Spring) |
| 2022 | Brown University: Teaching Assistant ANTH 0500/ ARCH 0100: Anthropological Archaeology (Fall) |
| 2021 | Brown University: Teaching Assistant ANTH 0310: Human Evolution (Spring) |
| 2018 | Brown University: Teaching Assistant ARCH 0730: The Secrets of Ancient Bones (Ancient DNA) (Fall) |
| 2017 | Brooklyn College, CUNY: Instructor of Record, Adjunct Lecturer CORC3307: Forensic Science (Spring 2017) |
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION
Papers presented
| 2023 | Kalisher, R. “Cranial trephinations as medical intervention in the Ancient Near East,” American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA) Annual Meeting. Reno, NV (Accepted) |
| 2022 | Cerrito, P., Hu, B., Kalisher, R., Bailey, S.E., Bromage, T.G. “Histological and elemental markers in teeth help reconstruct decedent-specific lived experiences,” American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS), Seattle, WA (Feb. 21-25). |
| 2019 | Kalisher, R. “Power and Pathology: Osteological Results from an Elite MB III Chamber Tomb at Tel Megiddo,” American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR), San Diego, CA (Upcoming November 2019) |
| 2019 | Kalisher, R. “Building a Better Bioarchaeology: Using a Case Study from Tel Shimron, Israel, to Challenge the Production and Value of Bioarchaeological Field Knowledge,” Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG), Syracuse, NY (May 2-4) |
| 2018 | Kalisher, R. “Perspectives on Ancient Disability and Healthcare: Examination of a Trephination from Late Bronze Age I (c. 1550-1400 BCE) Megiddo, Israel,” ASOR, Denver, CO (November 14-17) |
| 2017 | Fu, J., Fox, S., Kalisher, R., Marklein, K., Aja, A. “The Philistine Cemetery at Ashkelon: Funerary Remains and Mortuary Practice,” Society for American Archaeology (SAA), Vancouver, BC, Canada (March 29-April 2) |
| 2016 | Fox, S., Marklein, K., Kalisher, R. “The Contextual Study of the Human Skeletal Remains from the Philistine Cemetery at Ashkelon,” ASOR, San Antonio, TX (November 16-19) |
| 2016 | Kalisher, R., Dudas, M. “The reliability of sexing the pelvis by factoring in age: A pilot study,” Bioarchaeologists’ Northeast Regional Dialogue (BNRD), Oneonta, NY (October 29) |
Posters presented
| 2022 | Kalisher, R., Goldstein, J.Z., Cerrito, P., Swartz, S., Bromage, T.G. “Life Histories in Histology: Exploratory Research in Three Bone Tissues.” |
| 2017 | Fox, S., Marklein, K., Kalisher, R., Faerman, M., and Smith, P. “Symphalangism Among the Philistines at Ashkelon, Israel,” Paleopathology Association (PPA), New Orleans, LA (April 18-19) |
| 2017 | Fox, S.C., Marklein, K., Kalisher, R., Faerman, M., Smith, P., Master, D., Aja, A. “As Tall as Goliath? Stature Among the Philistines at Ashkelon,” American Association of Physical Anthropologists (AAPA), New Orleans, LA (April 19-22) |
| 2017 | Marklein, K., Fox, S., Kalisher, R. “Down in the mouth: Distributions of dental and oral conditions in human skeletal remains from Philistine period Ashkelon, Israel,” PPA, New Orleans, LA (April 18-19) |
| 2017 | Kalisher, R. “Differentiating dental wear patterns: A dental microwear study on the Philistine population from Ashkelon,” AAPA, New Orleans, LA (April 19-22) |
CURRENT FIELD POSITIONS
| 2022- Present | Palmachim, Israel | Chief bioarchaeologist Excavation directors: Assaf Yasur-Landau, Shirly Ben-Dor Evian |
| 2017- Present | Tel Shimron, Israel: Area Supervisor and Chief Bioarchaeologist Excavation directors: Daniel Master, Mario A.S. Martin. |
| 2016- Present | The Tel Megiddo Expedition, Israel: Chief Bioarchaeologist Excavation directors: Israel Finkelstein, Mario A.S. Martin, Matthew J. Adams. |
| 2015-Present | The Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon, Israel: Biological anthropologist Independently analyzed, processed, and reorganized skeletal material from 2014 and 2015. Worked as part of a small team of osteologists in 2016 and 2017. Excavation directors: Daniel Master, Lawrence Stager. |
PREVIOUS FIELD AND LAB PROJECTS
| 2018 | Horvat Tevet, Israel: Consulting biological anthropologist Excavation director: Omer Sergei. |
| 2016 | Histology and Correlative Microscopy Center, Dept. of Biomaterials and Biomimetics: Intern Worked with multiple methods of microscopy and dental casting to best understand the depth of biographical information that can be discerned from teeth. Located at NYU. Lab PI: Timothy Bromage |
| 2015 | C.A. Pound Human Identification Lab at the University of Florida: Intern Responsibilities included human maceration, assistance with radiographic analysis and reorganization project of the zooarchaeological remains. Lab PI: Michael Warren |
| 2014-15 | Florida Museum of Natural History: RTI Analyst, Research Assistant Performed RTI on a collection of incised and complicated stamped pottery from North Florida and Southern Georgia. Produced images were used to establish trade connections between Native American tribes. |
| 2013 | Tel Kabri, Israel: Volunteer Excavated a Canaanite Middle Bronze Age palace and discovered the oldest and largest personal wine cellar in the Near East. Excavation directors: Eric Cline, Assaf Yasur-Landau. |
| 2012-13 | Florida Museum of Natural History: Assistant to Collections Manager Cleaned archaeological material from Florida sites, as well as organized museum collections. Assisted in the creation of museum exhibit of archaeological material from St. Augustine, FL. |
| 2012 | Southeast Archaeological Laboratory (Gainesville, FL): Intern |
| 2012 | St. John’s Archaeological Field School (Ocala, FL): Student |
SERVICE, VOLUNTEER WORK AND ORGANIZING APPOINTMENTS
| 2022 | Biblical Archaeology Society: Invited Reviewer of Excavation Fellowships |
| 2021 | Brown University Title IX Coordinator Search: Invited Committee Member On a committee of six, including interim Title IX Coordinator, reviewing and interviewing candidates for the position of Title IX Coordinator. The search is led by the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. |
| 2021 | Task Force on Doctoral Education at Brown University: Committee Member On a task force of Brown community members, comprised of 16 faculty and 3 graduate students. Led by the co-deputy dean of the Graduate School. Charged with developing recommendations for promoting outstanding, innovative graduate education that supports the University’s excellence in research and teaching while also preparing graduates for desired career outcomes. |
| 2019- | Brown University Title IX Council: Graduate Student Council (GSC) Representative Received yearly training to participate in hearings. The hearing committee is responsible for reviewing all confidential case materials, including investigatory findings, determining the responsibility of the respondent, and determining sanctions at the end of the cases. |
| 2019-20 | State of the Field 2020: Levant: Organizing committee member, Brown University (CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19) |
| 2019 | “Think Like an Archaeologist”: Instructor Program coordinated by Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum and the Providence Public School system. Archaeologists visit local middle schools and teach five sessions introducing archaeology. |
| 2019- | [email protected]: Organizing member Group composed of women and queer-identifying archaeologists to come together and discuss personal and professional components of our work. |
| 2018-19 | State of the Field 2019: The Ancient DNA Revolution in Archaeology: Organizing committee member, Brown University |
| 2017,21- | Graduate Student Mentor, Brown University |
| 2016 | AAPA Annual Meeting, Student volunteer |
| 2016 | Women in Science, Graduate student mentor, New York University |
RELEVANT SKILLS
ImageJ Analysis
Impressions and casting
Gross anatomy dissection, maceration
Microscopy (Optical and SEM)
Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI)
LANGUAGES
English (native proficiency)
Spanish (excellent reading, good speaking, good writing)
Hebrew (excellent reading, conversational speaking, good writing)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA)
American Schools for Oriental Research (ASOR)
Phi Beta Kappa