Anthropology Chair’s Office: Dire Wolf Skull, Mammoth Toe, Other Oddities

Dr. Pavão-Zuckerman sitting at her office desk smiling. Her office shows two bookshelves full of books and a painting of a son and father.

A chance discovery in a parking lot sparked a lifelong passion—and a career. For Dr. Pavão-Zuckerman, what began as a simple excuse to visit a professor’s zooarchaeology lab quickly became a defining moment, revealing an entire field devoted to understanding human history through animal remains. That curiosity has since grown into groundbreaking research and academic leadership, as she uncovers how bones and artifacts shed light on past communities and their economies, diets and daily lives. From unexpected finds on a hike to carefully catalogued teaching collections, her journey shows how inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. Read the full story to see how one small discovery shaped our Anthropology Chair's remarkable path.

Read the rest of Karen Shih's story in Maryland Today 

Published on Fri, 02/27/2026 - 12:24