Suzann Henrikson

Research Archaeologist

 

Highlights:

• Worked at MOI since 2025 (following years of professional partnership with MOI)
• PhD (Oregon), master’s, and bachelor’s degrees (Idaho State) in archaeology
• work experience at Bureau of Land Management, Idaho National Laboratory, State Museum of Anthropology (Univ. of Oregon)
• numerous research publications in peer-reviewed journals, including American Antiquity

 

Profile:

Q: Explain what you do at the museum in 20 words or less.

Suzann: I currently serve as the Research Archaeologist for MOI. My energies are primarily focused on the Owl Cave/Wasden collection.

Q: What’s a museum-related accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of?

Suzann: The results of our most recent investigations of Owl Cave will soon appear in American Antiquity, the premier journal of the Society for American Archaeology.

Q: What do you do for fun?

Suzann: I love to explore southern Idaho with my husband and our dog, Jake. Now that I’m retired (from full-time work), I look forward to spending a lot more time enjoying outdoor activities.

Q: What would you do for a career if you weren’t doing this (and if money were no object)?

Suzann: At the age of nine, I decided that I wanted to be an archaeologist. I can’t think of another career that I would have enjoyed more.

Q: What’s the weirdest / most interesting past job you’ve had?

Suzann: My interest in the archaeology of southern Idaho has allowed me to investigate many fascinating lava tube caves in the region.

Q: Name a setback in your life that has ended up being a good thing.

Suzann: When the California economy was struggling in 2008, my husband and I decided to come back to Idaho, where I grew up. If we were still in California, I would have missed all the tremendous opportunities associated with the research of Owl Cave, one of Idaho’s most significant archaeological sites.

Q: What’s something – large or small, useful or not – that you’re really good at?

Suzann: I have functioned as a leader/supervisor for most of my career, especially during my days in academia.  I have really enjoyed building strong teams that enjoy their work, work well together, and take care of each other.

Q: What were you like in high school?

Suzann: I was very shy and nerdy at Shelley High School.  But I discovered that being nerdy was an asset in college.

Q: What’s your favorite book, movie, and TV show?

Suzann: I can’t imagine trying to come up with a list.

Q: Tell us something about you that might surprise us.

Suzann: I appear to channel the ghost of an old Victorian lady when I decorate my (1976) house.