The Bioarchaeology and Heritage Lab (an Anthropology/Archaeology laboratory at Boston University) uses non-destructive and community-grounded bioarchaeological approaches to holistically study burial contexts and the complex human remains found therein. The lab is also committed to generating ethical theory and methodology to address the many places skeletal remains can end up outside of burial contexts, and to create pathways for their return and commemoration.
Project Coordinators
Andreana "Andree" Cunningham, PhD
Andreana "Andree" Cunningham, PhD
Andreana "Andree" Cunningham, PhD
Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Archaeology, and African American & Black Diaspora Studies
Samantha Kelley, MS
Andreana "Andree" Cunningham, PhD
Andreana "Andree" Cunningham, PhD
Laboratory Manager
NAGPRA Collections Manager
Interim Department Administrator
Clinical Instructor
Meet Our Lab Members
Yijun "Betty" Xie '26
Yijun "Betty" Xie '26
Yijun "Betty" Xie '26
- Undergraduate Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Teaching Use and Pedagogy
Vivianne Dean '26
Yijun "Betty" Xie '26
Yijun "Betty" Xie '26
- BA/MA Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Teaching Use and Pedagogy
Lab Alumni
Hallie Baker '25
Emilia Giovannini-Yarnell '25
Meghan Fitzpatrick '25
- Undergraduate Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Teaching Use and Pedagogy
- Current Placement: Marshall Scholar, University of Cambridge/UCL
Meghan Fitzpatrick '25
Emilia Giovannini-Yarnell '25
Meghan Fitzpatrick '25
- Undergraduate Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Teaching Use and Pedagogy
- Current Placement: UCL
Emilia Giovannini-Yarnell '25
Emilia Giovannini-Yarnell '25
Emilia Giovannini-Yarnell '25
- Undergraduate Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Tracing Provenience and Supply Companies
Caroline "Cat" Metcalf '25
Caroline "Cat" Metcalf '25
Emilia Giovannini-Yarnell '25
- Undergraduate Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Department Curation Policy
- Current Placement: University of Glasgow
Jessica Buckley '26
Caroline "Cat" Metcalf '25
Jessica Buckley '26
- BA/MA Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Department Curation Policy
Sage Fuller '26
Caroline "Cat" Metcalf '25
Jessica Buckley '26
- BA/MA Researcher
- ATCCP: Inventory, Commingling and Reassociation
- Thesis Title: "Portable X-Ray Fluorescence and the Human Skeleton: A Study in Bioarchaeological Applications"
Lab News
Lab Member Yijun (Betty) Xie was recently awarded the BU Center for Humanities' Digital Creator Award in the "Game/App Design" category! Her achievement will be celebrated at the upcoming annual BUCH Awards Ceremony.
Her video game, “The Path Home,” originally created for Prof Cunningham's "Slavery and the In-Between" course, is a Bitsy game that captures the successes, tragedies, and nuanced history and legacy of America’s all-Black towns. Drawing on real-life experiences from the residents and founders of all-Black towns, players interact with a sort of “living history” as they converse, help, and receive aid from the budding community. Gameplay includes exploring the town to piece together real, historical accounts and testimonies and participate in the construction of a town school, church, resident housing, all while tackling systemic challenges.
You can play Betty's game here: https://an287projectbx.itch.io/the-path-home
Lab Member Yijun (Betty) Xie presented her senior thesis research on ethical interventions for osteological education at the American Association of Biological Anthropologists 2026 conference in Denver! Betty created original composite sculptures of osteomyelitis, a pathology condition underrepresented in teaching collections.