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Research Themes
The primary goal of my research is to expand our understanding of how humans in the past and present manage the challenges associated with social and ecological change. At the foundation of this research is the archaeological and historical record which provides a valuable source of empirical evidence for long-term changes in human behavior. |
Word cloud from the abstracts of my published articles
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My approach highlights the use of quantitative macro-evolutionary methods to evaluate the diversification of material culture and examine the role of diversity in mitigating risk and building resilience to environmental change. Currently, I am working on implementing a Bayesian stratigraphic framework for estimating rates of innovation and extinction within material culture systems (see tutorial here). I have also been active in the application of social network analysis to archaeological data and the use of archaeometric approaches (ICP-MS, luminescence dating, organic residue analysis, petrography) to the analysis of hunter-gatherer pottery.
Ekarma Island, Kuril Islands, Russia
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I have a special archaeological interest in exploring the dynamics of diversification within foraging populations that inhabit island and coastal settings. My dissertation research examined the roles of social and technological diversity in mitigating environmental unpredictability risks in the Kuril Islands in Northeast Asia.
Please feel free to explore more detailed descriptions of my research with the links below. |
