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UWA has a minor in Anthropology. Although my primary focus is archaeology, I am always happy to help tailor independent research and internships to complement a student's major and interests.
I am an archaeologist specializing in the late prehistory and history of the Southeastern U.S. My dissertation at the University of Alabama presented the results of my excavations at a salt spring in southwest Alabama where Late Woodland to Mississippian (A.D. 900-1500) peoples evaporated brine to produce salt. I hypothesize that local Late Woodland groups made salt largely for themselves but were eventually pushed out by expanding Mississippian populations who utilized more efficient technologies to make salt for themselves and for trade. Dr. Paul Eubanks, Middle Tennessee State University, and I are currently co-editing a book on the production of salt in Eastern North American and the Caribbean, to be published by the University of Alabama Press. As the Director of the Fort Tombecbe Archaeological site, owned by UWA and The Archaeological Conservancy, I oversee biannual excavations, regular field trips, and an annual Community Day for the public. More information on the site can be found at www.forttombecbe.org, a website funded by a grant from the Alabama Historical Commission. Another project is the Black Belt Slave Housing Survey, a long-term attempt to document extant slave dwellings in the Black Belt region of Alabama. Interested students learn how to make to-scale drawings, notes, and photographs of these structures. As the inventory grows, we will make it available online.
In 2017, I was honored to be selected as the Lorraine McIlwain Bell Trustee Professor for service, teaching, and creative work.
Courses Taught:
AN 100 Introduction to Anthropology
AN 101 Introduction to Biological Anthropology
AN 110 Introduction to Archaeology
AN 120 Great Discoveries in Archaeology
AN 200 Cultural Anthropology
AN/HY 310 Indians of North America
AN 400 Archaeological Laboratory Methods
AN 401/402 Field Work in Archaeology
AN 407 Directed Studies in Anthropology
AN 408 Cultural Resources Management
AN 409 Internship in Anthropology
AN/HY 427 Indians of the Southeast
AN 485 Fundamentals of Historical Archaeology
AN 498 Special Topics in Anthropology