Student Unearths Passion for Archeology
The future is shaped by the past, and for Mary Madigan, a Cedarville University student, that couldn’t be more true. Madigan has her sights set on a career in archaeology, combining her passion for history and humanity.
The future is shaped by the past, and for Mary Madigan, a Cedarville University student, that couldn’t be more true.
Madigan, a history major from Plain City, Ohio, has her sights set on a career in archaeology, combining her passion for history and humanity. Her journey into archaeology began with a love for history and a pivotal anthropology class.
Madigan applied for and was accepted into a summer field school through the College of William and Mary and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia. There, she worked on a dig of The Williamsburg Bray School, the first school for free and enslaved Black children.
The site, rich with history, offered Madigan the chance to uncover artifacts such as slate pencils, part of a doll and the site’s first intact bricks.
“Objects and humans are so interconnected. That’s something I love about archaeology. It’s not just an artifact; there’s a story and a person behind that artifact,” said Madigan. “It’s incredible to hold an object and think that someone else held that same object 250 years ago.”
Returning to Cedarville after her internship, Madigan sought to deepen her understanding of anthropology and history. She expressed her interest in a more anthropology focused history course to a professor, who then created a course on Atlantic history to meet the interests of Madigan and her peers. Madigan is now pursuing an independent study in material culture with her advisor, preparing her for a career in historical archaeology in the Southeastern United States region.
“I’m so blessed to have professors that care about me and my future,” said Madigan. “The professors at Cedarville want us to succeed, not just in the paths they offer but in the paths that God leads us down.”
Madigan’s professors and the History and Government Department also supported her attendance of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference in Williamsburg, where she networked with archeologists and learned about future opportunities.
Looking ahead, Madigan plans to complete another internship after graduation before pursuing a master’s degree in archaeology. She hopes to focus on historical or public archaeology in Virginia, where her love for history and humanity can thrive.
Cedarville University, an Evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.