Archaeology

The research foci of faculty reflect theoretical as well as applied aspects of the field and intersect with the Department’s socio-cultural anthropologists through the museum studies program as well as the historical and socio-political role of archaeology in contemporary society. Seven archaeologists in the department regularly teach and conduct research with regional specialties that include Midwest/Great Lakes, historical archaeology, Southwestern US, Andean South America, and prehistoric Europe.

Undergraduate students can participate in field schools in the Midwest and Peru. Fieldwork opportunities in the southwestern US are an option for advanced undergraduates, while internship and employment opportunities for qualified students are available through UWM CRM, the Department’s contract archaeology program. Students interested in museum studies may acquire experience in that field through lower and upper level undergraduate internships at the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Graduate students are drawn to our program by the opportunity to work with faculty who encourage interdisciplinary research both within the department and across disciplines. The museum studies graduate certificate attracts students interested in collections-based projects while the Milwaukee County Grounds skeletal assemblage provides an unprecedented opportunity for students interested in historical mortuary studies. Archaeologists in affiliated departments (Art History [Derek Counts, David Pacifico], Classics [Elisabetta Cova]) conduct fieldwork in Cyprus and South America.

Faculty research encompasses a diverse array of methodological and theoretical approaches:

Archaeology faculty are affiliated with the following programs and centers on the UWM campus: