Digging Vampires: Vampires' pervasiveness in culture and archaeology

Speakers: Sandra Pentney and Karen Lacy

Sandra Pentney and Karen Lacy have been collaborating on the SDCAS Halloween Presentation since 2015, when they presented their research on the origins of vampire, werewolf, and zombie myths. Ever since that first presentation they have wanted to go back and take a deeper look into Vampires. This monster has caused sleepless nights and desperate actions for over a thousand years all across the globe. In this talk we will separate Hollywood from historical documentation, look at the earliest documented mention of these fiends, and take a tour of select 'vampire burials' across Europe and the U.S.

Please note - this presentation will include photographs of human remains.

Sandra has over 20 years of experience as an archaeologist. Her education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology from Lakehead University and a Master's degree in Archaeology from the University of Saskatchewan. Her work experience spans all regions of the western US and Canada. She currently works as the County archaeologist here in San Diego. Her love of monsters and horror has resulted in her spending endless hours researching the anthropology of monsters and is thrilled to have found a venue through which to share her love of finding the origins of monster myths across cultures.

Karen Lacy has over 20 years of museum experience as well as a Master’s degree in Museum Science, a second Master's in Anthropology, and a Bachelor’s in History with minors in Art History and Anthropology. Karen co-founded Muse Curatorial Consulting Group in 2017, a company that specializes in collections care, training, grant writing, and exhibit development of archaeological, historic, library and archive materials. Along with her consulting work, Karen is also a professor of Anthropology teaching at San Diego City College, San Diego Miramar College, and MiraCosta College. Since she was a child she has been drawn to myths and legends on monsters and supernatural creatures leading her to a love of history, anthropology, and as well as a curator of Monsters! exhibit in her adult life.