Rituals, Roots, and Ruins: Inside the Life of an Archaeobotanist With Carly Henkel

In this episode of Asking Career Questions, I sit down with Carly Henkel, a PhD researcher at the Cyprus Institute’s Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC). Carly’s work delves deeply into the ancient world, examining how plants influenced Bronze Age ritual landscapes in Crete.

We discuss Carly’s academic journey from Wilfrid Laurier University to Leiden University, and how she found her calling in archaeobotany. She shares insights from her fieldwork at sites like Karphi, Kophinas, and Petras, and explains how analyzing ancient plant remains can reveal rich stories about human history.

We also talk about the future of archaeobotany, her best and worst career advice, and what she wishes she’d known starting out. If you’re curious about the intersection of plants, history, and archaeology—or just want to hear from someone who’s passionate about asking questions and finding meaning in the past—this conversation is for you.