University Star

Ever since she was 3 years old, Anna Schautteet has dreamed of discovering the remains of the past.

Now 17, the New Braunfels native recently assisted some of Texas State’s anthropology professors and faculty on the Gault Archaeological Project located 40 miles north of Austin.

After doing so, Schautteet was asked to be on an episode of comedian Amy Poehler’s new show, “Smart Girls at the Party.” Anna talked about her love for anthropology and served as example of the show’s motto to “encourage girls to change the world by being themselves.”

Schautteet will be attending Texas State in the spring of 2013 with the hopes of continuing her education in anthropology and deciding what branch most interests her.

The University Star spoke with Schautteet about her life-long love of anthropology, her assistance with the Gault Archaeological Project, and her feelings toward having her own episode on “Smart Girls at the Party.”

RB: How did you become interested in anthropology?

AS: I have been interested in archaeology since I was three years old. Anthropology, to me, is researching the past to make a foundation for the future. I became interested in that because I think the human side of it is just so interesting. That is what intrigues me the most.

RB: Tell me about the Gault Archaeological Project. What was it like working on the project?

AS: It was a huge honor to be invited to the lab. I’ve had a wonderful experience. I started by cleaning and washing the artifacts, and now I have moved up to cataloging, which is where you separate different pieces of artifact into groups, mark it all down and send it off to other scientists to be studied. The doctors are very helpful and answer all of my questions. It was a wonderful learning experience.

RB: I’d love to hear about your trip abroad. Where did you go and what was the experience like?

AS: I went to Macedonia, and it was all by coincidence that I got invited on to go on the trip. My brother-in-law has an intern who is originally from Macedonia, and she invited me to stay with her family as a host family. It was my first trip abroad. I got to work on the Bylazora site there which is a neoclassical Roman-period type of archaeological site. I got to do my first drawing and my first graphing of the site.

RB: Tell me about your experience on Amy Poehler’s show. How did that happen for you?

AS: I had been volunteering at the Gault Lab for about two years. When the show contacted Dr. Wernecke, who directs the research of the project, he gave them my name. I was the only one under 18 volunteering at the site. It was a wonderful experience. I was so nervous at first, but they were so nice. I think the organization is just wonderful for young girls.

RB: How has the show “Smart Girls at the Party” impacted your life?

AS: After I was on the show, I got a lot of feedback from young girls who said they were really inspired by it. That was the absolute best part for me. I think that helping inspire someone to be their self and follow their dreams is what it is all about for me.