Archaeology
Archaeologists study past human societies. Archaeology lets you use the physical and material remains people leave behind, often buried through time, to understand human culture as it has developed over time, and to reconstruct the lifeways of the people who lived in the past.
Archaeologists in the program at SIU Carbondale study in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, and in our own backyard in southern Illinois. Special emphases in our program include the development of complex societies.
In addition, Anthropology maintains a close association with the Center for Archaeological Investigations. The permanent staff of the CAI are adjunct faculty in Anthropology, and they hire many of our students on various projects. The CAI oversees research both in the local eastern woodlands region and in Micronesia.
Our faculty include:
- Andrew Balkansky, Professor and Interim Dean of Liberal Arts
- Brian Butler, Professor (emeritus, CAI)
- Ryan Campbell, Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Don Rice, Professor (emeritus)
- Prudence Rice, Distinguished Professor (emeritus)
- Izumi Shimada, Distinguished Professor
- Mark Wagner, Associate Professor, Director CAI
- Paul Welch, Associate Professor and Anthropology Chairperson