Dr. Billie Follensbee, an art history professor at Missouri State University, has received a $3,000 stipend for her research on Mesoamerican fishing practices during the formative period. Her work aims to explore the social and ritual significance of fishing in ancient Mesoamerican cultures, highlighting their advanced understanding of science and society. Additionally, she has secured a faculty research grant to involve students in her studies, particularly in the replication of ancient artifacts.

1. For immediate release
Feb. 10, 2015
Contact: Billie Follensbee
(417) 837-2337
BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu
Hot Topic – Expert Source
Art history professor fishing for a glimpse into ancient life
University professor researches Mesoamerican fishing practices
SPRINGFIELD— With spring around the corner and temperatures rising, what are you thinking about? A warm
sunny beach, a relaxing week at home or maybe fishing along the lake? Dr. Billie Follensbee has fishing on her
mind and not just any fishing: Mesoamerican fishing practices.
Follensbee, professor of art history at Missouri State University, was awarded the Dumbarton Oaks post-
doctoral research stipend for the month of March. This award includes a one-month residency at Dumbarton
Oaks Pre-Columbian Studies library and museum and a stipend of $3,000. The award gives her the opportunity
to conduct intensive library research and to conduct analysis of Mesoamerican cultural artifacts.
The stipend will specifically allow her to work on her sabbatical research project on Mesoamerican fishing
practices during the Formative period (1500 B.C. – 250 B.C.) titled, “The Paraphernalia, Practices, and Social
and Ritual Significance of Fishing in Early Mesoamerica.”
“Recent research has shown that fishing was an extremely important subsistence activity in ancient
Mesoamerica, and images in early sculpture support hypotheses that some of the paraphernalia associated with
fishing, such as fishing nets and net-making tools, may have been used as part of ceremonial dress or in rituals,”
said Follensbee.
She believes that by looking at depictions of fishing and fishing equipment, studying the fishing practices and
equipment from other Mesoamerican cultures and analyzing Formative period artifacts, that these data can be
used to explore the significance of fishing in Mesoamerican societies.
She says many people may not realize how sophisticated and advanced the ancient cultures of the Americas
were on the world scale. Cultures in the Americas were advanced for their time, as they had well-organized
communities, constructed cities with buildings well-adapted to their climates, and developed sophisticated
agricultural practices, advanced mathematics and complex writing systems.
“Mesoamerican societies had a much more accurate understanding, for example, of astronomy and calendrics
than did contemporary European societies,” said Follensbee. “Research like this may help us to expand our
understanding and bring more attention to these ancient cultures.”
Although there is research on the pre-Columbian cultures that lived in the Americas, there are still few
undergraduate courses taught about these cultures. “Research on ancient non-Western cultures is important for
students because it expands our understanding of ancient societies in the Americas,” said Follensbee. “My hope
is that this research might generate further interest in these cultures and encourage students to explore these
societies on their own through art history and archaeology.”
In addition to the Dumbarton Oaks stipend, Follensbee was awarded a Missouri State faculty research grant to
help conduct other aspects of her research. The grant will enable her to involve students in this research by

2. assisting in conducting replication studies. The students will assist in making ceramic replicas of ancient stone
artifacts and in testing various hypotheses on their purposes, such as their possible use as fishing net weights.
For more information, contact Follensbee at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu.
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