Dr. Jacqueline Eng, assistant professor of anthropology at Western Michigan University, examined ancient human remains in Nepal.
Bioarchaeologist Jacqueline Eng was recently on PBS when her work was featured on a National Geographic special, “Cave People of the Himalaya.” The special premiered Wednesday, February 15.
The PBS special features research she has been doing in Nepal over the past two years. Beginning in 2010, Eng joined a team of archaeologists, historians, linguists, and other specialists in the anthropological exploration of the settlement history of the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. Some of the preliminary results include evidence of de-fleshing in an ancient burial practice. Photos of her research were posted online in National Geographic’s Daily News on March 1, 2011.
Eng’s research interests are in the health of ancient human populations as revealed by their skeletal and dental remains. Through this bioarchaeological perspective, she has conducted osteological research on hunter-gatherer populations in California, Viking Age and Conversion Age inhabitants of Iceland, post-medieval peasants from Transylvania, nomadic pastoralists of Mongolia, and numerous societies from China’s northern frontier that date from the Neolithic age to the Mongolian Dynasty.
Eng’s major regional focus is in health and disease found among these nomadic pastoralists and settled farmers during major shifts in health and disease and socioeconomic landscape as the ancient Chinese empire and pastoral cultures developed and interacted with each other.
Also, as a member of the Global History of Health Project, she has contributed to this NSF- and NIH-funded investigation of the history of human health over the past 10,000 years.
“Cave People of the Himalaya” aired on PBS, Wednesday February 15, at 10 p.m. EST. Check local listings for additional showings.
PBS Video link
Dr. Eng in the spotlight.
