March 12, 2025

To celebrate our 2025 Fellowship recipients, we contacted our winners to learn about their projects and and share their unique experiences in the world of archaeology. We’re thrilled to introduce Carly Henkel, the winner of the prestigious Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship for 2025!

Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship Winner: Carly Henkel (The Cyprus Institute)

With support from the Harriet and Leon Pomerance Fellowship, PhD Candidate Carly Henkel will investigate plant remains from the Minoan Bronze Age settlement at Karphi, Crete in order to explore the past agricultural choices and adaptations made by a community inhabiting one of the island’s mountainous plateaus. This study aims to uncover the types of plants that the Bronze Age community at Karphi chose to utilize for everything from their diet and agriculture practices to the creation of portable objects and construction materials, thereby addressing a knowledge gap about ancient plant exploitation practices in an upland environment of Crete. Since the Mediterranean region experienced an increasingly arid climate towards of the Bronze Age, which parallels many of the climate change issues we face today, this project will also contribute to general discussions concerning adaption, change, the complexities of marginal living, and responses to food insecurity. 

How did you get your start in archaeology? 

Upon finishing several years of traveling around the world after high school, I knew it was time to go to university. I wanted pursue a profession that involved history and traveling, since these had become clear passions for me. So, I literally did a google search and ‘archaeology’ came back as the number one search result. I had never heard of archaeology before, but it sound exactly like what I was looking for, so I enrolled in an undergraduate course and have never had a moments regret.

Where in the world has archaeology brought you? 

Archaeology brought me to several places I did not get to during my own travels after high school, including my now permanent residence on Crete. I actually first came to Crete as an undergraduate student as part of the required fieldwork component of the archaeology program at Sir Wildfred Laurier University in Kitchener, Ontario (Canada). At the end of my second fieldwork season, I met my husband and moved to Crete permanently after I finished my undergraduate studies. I also traveled throughout Italy, Mainland Greece and Turkey visiting archaeological sites before and after excavation seasons. My post-graduate studies have taken me to Holland and Cyprus, while a conference has taking me to the Czech Republic and specialized training has taken me to Spain.

What is one of the most memorable things that has happened to you in the field? 

I am not sure that I have a most memorable moment from the field. Instead, I would say that my three fieldwork seasons with the Gournia excavation team was one big memorable moment! These were the best summers I have ever had – full of laughter, love and experiences that I will never forget, as well as friendships made that will last the rest of my life.

How has the AIA contributed to your success/professional goals? 

Through the Pomerance fellowship, the AIA is enabling me to pursue independent archaeobotanical research beyond my PhD. This research project is hopefully just the first of many and receiving the Pomerance fellowship will no doubt contribute to the successful securement of additional funded work in the future.

Learn more about what Fellowship opportunities are available through the AIA.