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Ortman, Scott Graham

Associate Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Dr. Ortman's research has three foci: 1) historical anthropology--the integration of theory and data from the traditional subdisciplines of anthropology to understand the long-term histories of indigenous peoples, especially in the U.S. Southwest; 2) complex systems approaches to human societies and their evolution, especially the effects of networks, agglomeration and institutional change; and 3) collaborative synthesis in archaeology--the effort to expand the role of archaeology in discussions of contemporary issues. Ortman is co-director if the CU-Pojoaque Youth Culture Camp, PI of the Social Reactors Project, co-PI of the CyberSW Project, and Director of the Center for Collaborative Synthesis in Archaeology within the Institute for Behavioral Science.

keywords

  • archaeology, historical anthropology, cognitive and historical linguistics, evolution, social development, complex systems, material culture, US Southwest, North America

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • ANTH 1120 - Exploring a Non-Western Culture: Pueblo Indians of the Southwest
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2024
    Examines the geography, kinship, politics and religious values of Pueblo Indian peoples of the US Southwest in historical and contemporary context through an anthropological perspective. Specific details of Pueblo Indian languages, cultures, and histories are used to illustrate basic ideas and debates in anthropology including: the concept of culture, the influence of language on thought, the grounding of culture in human biology, religion and reason, the nature of oral traditions, and archaeological interpretation.
  • ANTH 4000 - Quantitative Methods in Anthropology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
    Surveys ways of deriving meaning from anthropological data by numerical means, including but not confined to basic statistical procedures. Recommended prerequisites: ANTH 2010 and ANTH 2020. Same as ANTH 5000.
  • ANTH 4020 - Explorations in Anthropology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018
    Special topics in cultural and physical anthropology, as well as archaeology. Check with the department for semester offerings. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours. Same as ANTH 5020.
  • ANTH 4350 - Archaeological Field and Laboratory Research
    Primary Instructor - Summer 2018 / Summer 2024
    Students participate in archaeological field research or conduct laboratory analysis of archaeological materials and data. Students work with faculty on archaeological research projects with a field or lab focus, depending on the project undertaken. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Recommended prerequisites: ANTH 2200 and students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors). Same as ANTH 5350.
  • ANTH 4710 - Departmental Honors in Anthropology 1
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2024
    Course work built around theme of research design as a means of integrating previous training in the field of anthropology as well as providing an opportunity to perform creative scientific investigations. Prepares students to write an honors thesis in ANTH 4720. Required of students doing Anthropology departmental honors.
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