Adam Van Arsdale
@apv2600.bsky.social
Biological anthropologist (Pleistocene human evolution), Professor @Wellesley College, dad, outdoor-lover, sport enthusiast
Been going to back to school nights for 17+ years. I think tonight was the first time I crossed the threshold of feeling “old” as emblematized by these classroom signs.
September 26, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Been going to back to school nights for 17+ years. I think tonight was the first time I crossed the threshold of feeling “old” as emblematized by these classroom signs.
This is a very interesting figure (from here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...). Really is not an illusion that it feels kind of like it sucks to be in the US for anyone (everyone) my age and younger...
August 21, 2025 at 9:13 PM
This is a very interesting figure (from here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...). Really is not an illusion that it feels kind of like it sucks to be in the US for anyone (everyone) my age and younger...
My #10minMerlin while sitting on the porch eating breakfast in metro west Boston (I love where I live)
May 4, 2025 at 1:18 PM
My #10minMerlin while sitting on the porch eating breakfast in metro west Boston (I love where I live)
The scarlet tanager was a new one for me this morning. Was able to eventually spot the male, and had a great blue heron flyover as a bonus.
May 1, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The scarlet tanager was a new one for me this morning. Was able to eventually spot the male, and had a great blue heron flyover as a bonus.
I was sad to hear this week of the passing of paleoanthropologist Philip Rightmire. My favorite memories of Philip come from 2010 and 2011 when I was helping to direct the Dmanisi field school and Philip, emeritus faculty at that point, got to relieve his student days and join us in the field.
April 24, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I was sad to hear this week of the passing of paleoanthropologist Philip Rightmire. My favorite memories of Philip come from 2010 and 2011 when I was helping to direct the Dmanisi field school and Philip, emeritus faculty at that point, got to relieve his student days and join us in the field.
Weather that finally lets me grade while sitting on the deck makes it so much better.
April 14, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Weather that finally lets me grade while sitting on the deck makes it so much better.
Post a warning
One more on a funny note
One more on a funny note
March 23, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Post a warning
One more on a funny note
One more on a funny note
Post a warning
Though to be fair, this one is more of an invitation...
Though to be fair, this one is more of an invitation...
March 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Post a warning
Though to be fair, this one is more of an invitation...
Though to be fair, this one is more of an invitation...
Post a warning
Hiking trails in Anchorage near Army base
Hiking trails in Anchorage near Army base
March 23, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Post a warning
Hiking trails in Anchorage near Army base
Hiking trails in Anchorage near Army base
Further up that ridge towards just before the ascent of Mt. Washington Peak (on a day that was NOT some of the worst weather)
March 23, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Further up that ridge towards just before the ascent of Mt. Washington Peak (on a day that was NOT some of the worst weather)
On a more positive note, very excited for my human evolution class’s GIS activity for tomorrow:
March 4, 2025 at 12:40 AM
On a more positive note, very excited for my human evolution class’s GIS activity for tomorrow:
Spent a few extra minutes on the morning dog walk basking in the sun with some winter friends today
February 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Spent a few extra minutes on the morning dog walk basking in the sun with some winter friends today
Footprint day (1 of 2) in my Human Evolution class. Making, scanning, and post-processing data so that we can compare our class footprints to those published in Raichlen et al (2010) and Hatala et al (2024)
February 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Footprint day (1 of 2) in my Human Evolution class. Making, scanning, and post-processing data so that we can compare our class footprints to those published in Raichlen et al (2010) and Hatala et al (2024)
The world is pretty bad right now, but my son’s “cats on catnip” calendar is pretty great
February 2, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The world is pretty bad right now, but my son’s “cats on catnip” calendar is pretty great
Whew. Couldn't put it down, so I read it in basically one sitting. Now it is going to linger with me for awhile...
January 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Whew. Couldn't put it down, so I read it in basically one sitting. Now it is going to linger with me for awhile...
Gathering together materials for my Spring human evolution course, so for #fossilfriday, here is a scan of an endocast of DH2 (Homo naledi, Rising Star Cave, South Africa), courtesy of morphosource: www.morphosource.org/concern/medi...
January 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Gathering together materials for my Spring human evolution course, so for #fossilfriday, here is a scan of an endocast of DH2 (Homo naledi, Rising Star Cave, South Africa), courtesy of morphosource: www.morphosource.org/concern/medi...
Grading weather…commence!
December 20, 2024 at 5:07 PM
Grading weather…commence!
Reading this paper on some late Middle Pleistocene hominins this morning and thinking about the fantastically enigmatic Narmada Valley individual for #fossilfriday onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
December 20, 2024 at 4:23 PM
Reading this paper on some late Middle Pleistocene hominins this morning and thinking about the fantastically enigmatic Narmada Valley individual for #fossilfriday onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
I like taking a pic of my office on day 1 of the semester and the last day of the semester. I feel like I kept it together this year better than most…
December 17, 2024 at 1:17 AM
I like taking a pic of my office on day 1 of the semester and the last day of the semester. I feel like I kept it together this year better than most…