Derrick Maurer

Field Technician

Derrick Maurer was born and raised in Southern Indiana, now living in Wadesville, Indiana. He graduated in 2020 from the University of Southern Indiana (USI) with his BS in Anthropology and a minor in Studio Art. While a student at USI, he participated in the 2018 archaeological field school, the majority of which was spent at the Middle Woodland Martin site (12VG42) in Evansville, Indiana. The last two weeks were spent excavating at one of the many historic sites in New Harmony, Indiana. Derrick was privileged to obtain an internship with his local CRA office in Evansville during his last semester at USI. It was here that he gained a better appreciation for the work conducted in cultural resource management. Following these experiences, Derrick knew that he greatly enjoyed archaeological fieldwork and wanted to further his education in that field of study. This decision brought him to Tallahassee in the Fall semester of 2020 to join the Anthropology department at Florida State University to pursue his Master’s degree. He is currently working on a thesis focusing on the archaeological materials recovered from a boarding house in Charleston, South Carolina. Included with the research for his thesis is a comparative study which aims to bring the lived-experiences of mid-eighteenth- to mid-nineteenth-century residents of Lodge Alley, Charleston, South Carolina into the current social memory. The primary focus of his research is on the experience of women in this region and period. A secondary focus is on the community-level experience of the lower-class in this part of the city. Comparisons are made between the deposits generated by residents of Lodge Alley and those through domestic residences, rural and urban, of more affluent class(es). Along with the comparisons of domestic deposits, the Lodge Alley deposit (representing a dual-functioning commercial and residential site) is compared with those produced by an eighteenth- to nineteenth-century tavern/eating establishment and those through residences known to be associated with sex-work.

Numerous interests drive Derrick’s life outside of archaeology. On his days off he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, playing/writing music, winning every game of clabber he can, cooking something new on his smoker, and participating in all the outdoor activities he can make time for. Outside of the peak COVID years, Derrick has made an annual trip to Universal Orlando for the past 20 plus years. He attempted to make up for those lost years while living in Tallahassee.