Cassidee Thornhill became the Collections Manager at the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository in February 2024. She has over 11 years of archaeological experience in the High Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Great Basin regions. She has experience identifying, evaluating, and curating various archaeological resources, including pre-contact and historic artifacts and faunal remains. Her research interests include the introduction of the horse into Indigenous lifeways on the high plains during Euro-American contact.
As the Collections Manager, Cassidee works with contractors, federal and state agencies, other archaeologists, and the interested public in her efforts to ensure future generations can use Wyoming’s cultural heritage for research, display, and education. She believes that maintaining the highest standards of collections care for the Repository is critical to ensure that collections are accessible for research, education, outreach, and interpretation for the benefit of the public. As an Adjunct with the University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology, she also teaches the Collections Management class, which gives students practical skills and teaches the standards and ethical background necessary to care for archaeological collections properly.