Dr. Ortman's research focuses on historical anthropology, or the integration of theory and data from many fields to understand the long-term histories of indigenous peoples. He is especially interested in the causes and consequences of major transitions - periods when new societies formed, old ones collapsed, or new scales of organization emerged. As examples, he has investigated Tewa Pueblo origins in the Northern Rio Grande region of New Mexico; the growth and collapse of villages in the Mesa Verde region of Colorado; and more recently, the accumulation of social complexity on a global scale. Ortman is currently working on the Neolithic Revolution in the U.S. Southwest in collaboration with Crow Canyon Archaeological Center and the CU Museum of Natural History, the emergence of towns in the Tewa Basin, and complex systems approaches to human societies in collaboration with the Santa Fe Institute.
keywords
archaeology, historical anthropology, cognitive and historical linguistics, evolution, social development, complex systems, material culture, US Southwest, North America
ANTH 1120 - Exploring a Non-Western Culture: Pueblo Indians of the Southwest
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020
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
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Fall 2019
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
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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
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Summer 2018
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 5000 - Quantitative Methods in Anthropology
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Surveys ways of deriving meaning from anthropological data by numerical means, including but not confined to basic statistical procedures. Same as ANTH 4000.
ANTH 5020 - Explorations in Anthropology
Primary Instructor
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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 4020.
ANTH 5350 - Archaeological Field and Laboratory Research
Primary Instructor
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Summer 2018
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. Same as ANTH 4350.
ANTH 5460 - Archaeology and Contemporary Society
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018
Explores the intellectual climate in which archaeology is practiced and how it influences archaeological research and reconstruction, laws, regulations, and ethical issues. Explores public use of and engagement with archaeology.
ANTH 7030 - Seminar: Archaeology
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020
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.
