Indigenous Studies and Historical Archaeology

Graduate Program

We focus on the Pre-Contact and Historical Archaeology and Ethnohistory of the New World, with a particular focus on the histories and experiences of Native American, African-American and Colonial peoples and their descendant communities. Our regional focus encompasses New England, the Atlantic Seaboard, and the broader Atlantic World.  We offer training in theory and method to address critical questions in the encounters, relationships and histories of Native, African and Colonial peoples.

We offer training in Historical Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management (McBride); Pre-Contact Archaeology (McBride, Bellantoni, Thorson); Ethnographic Methods, Ethnohistory, Museum Studies (Bruchac, Linnekin, McBride); Indigenous Studies, Cultural Performance and Representation (Bruchac, Linnekin); Zooarchaeology (Munro), Archaeobotany (Smith), Lithic Technology (McBrearty, Adler), Human Osteology (McBrearty), Geoarchaeology (McBrearty, Adler), Taphonomy (Munro, McBrearty), and Quantitative Methods (Adler)

 We offer internships and training opportunities at the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Office of the Connecticut State Archaeologist and the Northeast Regional Office of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the UConn Avery Point Campus.

We maintain close ties with the Departments of History, Geography, and Integrative Geosciences, and with the Native American Studies, American Studies and Maritime Studies Programs.

Faculty have active research programs in Northeastern North America, the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, Portugal, St. Croix and Bermuda, and can provide research and fieldwork opportunities in these and other locations.