Females in the Field, Team Q&As
Q&A with Kristine
Meet Kristine! Our resident GIS Specialist, focusing mostly on our GIS needs for our work in BC but helping out all over the place when she’s needed! We recently caught up with her to get the inside scoop on her journey into consulting archaeology, and trust us, she’s got some amazing stories to tell! Kristine brings a ton of passion and fun to our team. We loved reading all about it, and we know you will, too!
How did you learn about Circle, and what made you want to join our community?
It’s kind of a funny story. Back in my second year of archaeology at the University of Calgary, someone from Circle came to give a guest talk on CRM. It was my first introduction to the field, and they shared a lot of great advice for future archaeologists. I remember thinking, “This sounds like a really cool place to work”, so I made a mental note to apply once I graduated.
Fast forward a few years, and I ended up getting a second degree in GIS. I worked in the GIS industry for a while, but when I saw Circle was hiring a GIS Specialist, it felt like the perfect match. I’d get to use both degrees and work in two fields I love.
You could say things came full Circle (pun very much intended). I joined the team in a different role than I first imagined, but it’s been an amazing experience. The environment here is so friendly and welcoming. These days, I split my time between the lab (where I help catalogue artifacts in the winter) and the field. I even found my first site this season, which was wild, since I’m usually the one making maps of sites other people find!
What brought you into the consulting archaeology industry?
I missed archaeology! I had been working in the GIS industry for a few years, and while I love GIS and mapmaking, I did miss the world of archaeology, especially since a lot of my friends from university were working in CRM. They would always send me pictures of all the cool things they were finding while out in the field, and I couldn’t help but want to be part of it again. So now, I get the best of both worlds: mapmaking and playing in the dirt!
What is your favourite thing(s) to do on days off?
I love to read and play sports. So on days off, or even after work most days, you’ll find me either curled up with a good book and some tea, or out on the courts playing basketball or volleyball with my friends.
Speaking of loving to read, it turns out a bunch of us here at Circle are big book nerds, which is perfect because we recently started a book club! It’s been great discovering new reads and talking about them over lunch. A lot of us have similar tastes, but it’s also fun to dive into books that are outside my usual picks. Right now, I’m reading Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao, which just came out this past December. I’ve been waiting so patiently for it since finishing Iron Widow in 2021, and I’m loving it!
The Circle Book Club just wrapped up The Song of Achilles, and we’re planning to read The Hobbit next. I’ve never read it, so I’m excited to finally get into it!
If you could travel to a country specifically to do archaeology, where would it be?
Probably Sweden or Norway. I’m a big fan of Vikings and would love to study that more. Norse mythology fascinates me, and I think shield maidens and the role of women in Viking society are especially interesting. It would be so cool to work on a Viking hoard or burial, and it’d be very different from Canadian archaeology!
What is your archaeological dream?
I would love to find a complete projectile point! I know it’s a simple dream, but it would be really exciting, and I haven’t found one yet.
If I had to think bigger, I think it would be amazing to do 3D modelling of an archaeological site. Creating an interactive virtual reality experience where people could explore the site and learn its history would be such a cool way to contribute to digital preservation in the industry.
We’re always on the lookout for great people!
If you’re looking for your next career adventure, we encourage you to head to our Jobs page for more info. Curious about the Circle CRM experience? Visit our Instagram to get a glimpse into what we do.
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