Vanessa Ockerman

Vanessa is a Junior Permit Archaeologist at Ember Archaeology and has been with the company since 2021. She assists permit and project archaeologists during the field season by leading small crews through HRIA and HRIM assessments in the Albertan Lower Foothills, Boreal forest, and parkland sub-regions. During the winter months, she assists in lab analyses and report writing, including faunal analysis, QGIS mapping, site forms, photography, and other reporting tasks. Given her various years of experience, her goal is to transition into a permit holding role once she completes her Master’s degree.

Vanessa completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at MacEwan University in 2022 where she majored in anthropology and minored in history. She is in the process of finishing her Master’s of Archaeology degree at the University of Saskatchewan and her specialty is in zooarchaeology. Her Master’s research focuses on faunal analysis from the fur trade site, South Branch House, located in central Saskatchewan. In 2019, Vanessa participated in the field school at Bodo, AB where public participants and archaeologists worked together to excavate a portion of a bison pound. Before excavations began at Bodo, she gave tours at the center and the various archaeological sites in the area.

Vanessa’s favourite parts about Cultural Resource Management are hiking through the forest, driving ATVs, and travelling to different areas of the province. When she is not in the field, Vanessa enjoys travelling with her best friend, playing cards with her family, playing basketball, and reading.