I study how human activities generate political and economic arrangements reflected on landscapes and smaller-scale viewscapes. Specifically, I have analyzed the territorial appropriation of large areas by prehistoric political groups: how and why polities formed and expanded their territories, and subsequently adapted to the intrusion of larger states and empires. I am expert in GIS software; have created new applications for the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems; and use terrestrial LiDAR for modelling archaeological and historical sites. Recently, I have focused on other types of viewscapes, caves, murals, and codices, in particular examining ancient pigments through non-destructive analyses. I am currently creating a mobile laboratory with capabilities in XRF, FTIR, FORS, MSI, and hyperspectral spectrometry to test the authenticity of archaeological objects and historical artwork. These new technologies can offer critical insights on archaeological and anthropological questions.
keywords
Mesoamerican Archaeology, History of Disasters, Ancient Urbanism, Ancient Imperialism, Ethnohistory, Mesoamerican Tributary Systems, Mesoamerican Writing Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for archaeological applications, Non-destructive analysis of archaeological materials using XRF, FTIR, FORS, MSI and Hyperspectral spectrometry
ANTH 1141 - Indigenous Imperialism on the Andes: The Inca Realm and its People
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2021
Uses archaeological and anthropological approaches to the study of non-Western imperialism examining the origins of inequality and marginalization in Indigenous pre-European empires and their maintenance during European colonialism. We will use the Inca Empire, the largest Indigenous political system of the American continent by 1530 AD. Learning about the Indigenous and Spanish cultural heritage of South America will equip the students to appreciate present-day Latin America societies with an anthropological perspective.
ANTH 1145 - Exploring a Non-Western Culture: The Aztecs
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2024
Explores the culture of the Aztec people of Central Mexico: their subsistence, society, religion, and achievements, as well as the impact of the Aztec empire in Mesoamerica. Also reviews the clash of a non-western society with the western world with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
ANTH 1155 - Exploring Global Cultural Diversity
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2019
Examines the geography, kinship, politics and religious values of various cultures globally in historical and contemporary context through an anthropological perspective. Check with department for semester offerings. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.
ANTH 4020 - Explorations in Anthropology
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Summer 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2024
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 5020 - Explorations in Anthropology
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2021
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 4020.
ANTH 5400 - Research Methods in Archaeology 2
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2023
Focuses on the design of research including constructing empirical arguments and testing them, data gathering, site formation processes, field strategies (archival resources, mapping, field survey, surface collecting/recording, excavation and preliminary analysis) and artifact analysis as it relates to research design.
ANTH 6940 - Master's Candidate for Degree
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2020 / Spring 2021
Registration intended for students preparing for a thesis defense, final examination, culminating activity, or completion of degree.
ANTH 7030 - Seminar: Archaeology
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2024
Intensive examination of selected theoretical or methodological topics in archaeology. Topics vary with current research emphasis. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
