Ph.D., Tulane University, 1983.

Evolution of cultural systems with a focus on archaeology of the southwestern United States.

My research continues to focus on regional demography of the Pueblo people of New Mexico during the Protohistoric period (AD 1450-1680). Field work to estimate the momentary population of 16th century villages has been combined with research training for undergraduate and graduate students. Recent publications and presentations highlight extensive villages that had 1,000 to 3,000 rooms each. Study of archaeological remains suggests these places represent repeated occupation by 200 to 400 people of a specific locality. Previous efforts to calculate regional population appear to have used an exaggerated village size, and resulted in inflated population figures for the Pueblos at the time Europeans arrived in New Mexico.

Undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northern Illinois University, the University of Chicago and other institutions continue to participate in project research, along with a dedicated group of volunteers.