Education:
- BA: Shippensburg University, History/Geoenvironmental Studies
- MS: University of Pittsburgh, Geology
- PhD: University of Pittsburgh, Anthropology (Geoarchaeology)
- Postdoctoral Fellow: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
Courses Taught:
- ANTH 110 Contemporary Anthropology
- ANTH 320/520 Archaeological Field School
- ANTH 415 Cultural Resource Management
- ANTH 487/587 Geoarchaeology
- ANTH 470/570 Environmental Archaeology
- ANTH 492/592 Soils
- ANTH 616 PreContact North American Archaeology
- ANTH 625 Public Archaeology
- ANTH 745 Archaeological Interpretation
Professional Interests:
I am a Geoarchaeologist interested in human adaptation to climate-induced landscape change. Ongoing research projects focus on the use of geologic approaches to answer archaeological questions, such as using soil micromorphology to investigate mound building technologies and evaluate buried landforms, microartifacts (artifacts <4mm) to investigate household organization and site formation processes, and pXRF and SEM microscopy to geochemically characterize lithic resources and trade.
Current Research:
- Geoarchaeology and landform evolution at the Squirrel Hill archaeological site. (link to research page
- Geochemical and archaeological analysis of pre-contact rhyolite quarries within the South Mountain landscape (South Mountain Partnership grant)
- Geochemical analysis and creation of digital comparative collection of Mid-Atlantic cherts (IUP KCNSM Roblin Scholarship for Anthropology-Chemistry Research)
- Settlement systems and wetland exploitation of Late Quaternary Hunter-Gatherers in Northwestern PA
- Office:
- McElhaney Hall, Room G1-B
- Email:
- Office Phone:
- 724-357-2732