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David Anderson

Associate Professor
Archaeology & Anthropology University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

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David Anderson

Associate Professor

Archaeology & Anthropology

Specialty area(s)

Egyptian archaeology, Late Prehistoric period Native America, origins of complex society, technology in archaeology, 3D documentation of archaeological remains.

Brief biography

Dr. Anderson is an Associate Professor of Archaeology in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology.  His primary research focus is the Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods and the formation of the Egyptian state.  He is an archaeologist with over 30 years of experience conducting archaeological research in the eastern United States and Middle East on both prehistoric and historic sites.  He is the Director of the El-Mahâsna Archaeological Project which is investigating the formation of the ancient Egyptian centralized state and the origins of Egyptian religion and divine kingship.  He specializes in the integration of computers and archaeology, utilizing 3D capture, CADD, GIS, Geophysical sensing and database management to facilitate collection and analysis of field results.

Current courses at UWL

ARC 100: Archaeology: Discovering Our Past
ARC 101: Orientation to the Archaeological Studies Major
ARC 196: Archaeology: An Introduction to Lab and Field Methods
ARC 200: World Archaeology: Origins and Development of Human Culture and Society
ARC/HIS 295: Pyramids, Temples and Towns! The Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
ARC 300: Cultural Resources Management
ARC/HIS 302: Egyptian Hieroglyphs: The Language and Culture of Ancient Egypt
ARC 395: Graduate Preparation Seminar
ARC 402: Field Methods in Archaeology
ARC 445: Research Methods in Archaeology

Education

Ph.D.  Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, 2006
             Dissertation Title: Power and Competition in the Upper Egyptian Predynastic:  A View from the Predynastic Settlement at el-Mahâsna, Egypt. 

M.A.  Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, 1995.
             Thesis Title:  Susquehannock Longhouses and Culture Change During the Contact Period in Pennsylvania. 

A.B. Anthropology, concentration in archaeology, University of Chicago, 1990; also completed the requirements for A.B. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (Egyptology),                           University of Chicago, 1990

Career

Teaching history

Associate Professor of Archaeology, Department of Sociology and Archaeology, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  July 2012 – present.

Assistant Professor of Archaeology, Department of Sociology and Archaeology, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  August 2008 – June 2012.

Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  October 2006 – August 2008.

Part-time Instructor, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.  2000-2006.

Teaching Fellow,  Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh.  Fall 1993 ‑ Spring 1994; and Fall 1994 ‑ Spring 1995.

Teaching Assistant,  Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Fall 1992 ‑ Spring 1993.

Lecturer, Docent Training Program, Education Department, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA.

Outreach Lecturer,  Department of Education, The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania.  September 1991 ‑ August 1992.

Professional history

Associate Professor of Archaeology, Department of Sociology and Archaeology, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  August 2012 – present.

President, Board of Governors, American Research Center in Egypt, April 2021-present.

Vice President, Board of Governors, American Research Center in Egypt, April 2018-2021.

Professional Member, Board of Governors, American Research Center in Egypt, April 2015-April 2018.

Assistant Professor of Archaeology, Department of Sociology and Archaeology, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  August 2008 – 2011.

Project Director, El-Mahâsna Archaeological Project of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. 1996-present (formally of the University of Pennsylvania Museum - Yale University - Institute of Fine Arts, New York University Expedition to Abydos, Egypt.  1996 – 2009).

Archaeology Manager/Senior Prehistorian, Cultural Resources Group, GAI Consultants, Inc.  Homestead, PA.  Full Time: November 2007 – August 2008, part-time August 2008 – June 2010.

Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  October 2006 – August 2008.

Senior Archaeologist/Principal Investigator and Operations Manager, Cultural and Natural Resources Section, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.  Moon Township, PA.  January 2006 – October 2007

Senior Archaeologist/Principal Investigator and Operations Manager, Cultural Resources Section, Michael Baker, Jr. Engineering, Inc.  Moon Township, PA.  September 1999 – December 2005

Part-time Instructor, Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.  Fall and Spring semesters, 2000-2006 (with the exception of Spring 2004).

Archaeological Principal Investigator (Cultural Resource Specialist II), Cultural Resources Section, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.  Coraopolis, PA.  September 1997 - 1999

Assistant Registrar, Loans,  The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania.  September 1990 ‑ August 1992.

Assistant to the Registrar and the Conservator,  The Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago.  October 1989 ‑ June 1990.

Assistant to the Registrar,  The Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago.  October 1987 ‑ May 1989.

Research and publishing

Selected Publications and Research Reports

2011                “Evidence for Early Ritual in the Predynastic Settlement at el-Mahâsna.” In  Egypt at its Origins 3: Proceedings of the Third International Colloquium ‘Origin of the State, Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt in  London, 27th–July 1st August 2008, edited by Friedman, R. F., Fiske, P. N. (Ed.), (pp. 28 pages). Leuven: Peeters Publishers and Booksellers. 

2007                “Zoomorphic Figurines from the Predynastic Settlement at el-Mahâsna, Egypt.”  In The Archaeology and Art of Ancient Egypt:  Essays in honor of David B. O'Connor.  Edited by Zahi Hawass and Janet Richards. Supreme Council of Antiquities Press, Cairo.  (Distributed by American University in Cairo Press.) 

 2006                Power and Competition in the Upper Egyptian Predynastic:  A View from the Predynastic Settlement at el-Mahâsna, Egypt.  University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 2002                "Elites Among the Monongahela?  Evidence for Emergent Social Complexity in Southwestern Pennsylvania during the Protohistoric Period".  Archaeology of Eastern North America.  Volume 30, 2002.

 2002                "The Disappearance of the Monongahela: Solved?" with James B. Richardson, III, and Edward R. Cook.  Archaeology of Eastern North America.  Volume 30, 2002.

 1999                “The Predynastic Period in the Abydos Region.”  In Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Compiled and edited by  Kathryn A. Bard.  Routledge  Press.

 1994                Archaeology:  Tools and Technology.  Teacher's Guide.  Thematic Loan Kit, Educational Loan Collection.  Carnegie Museum of  Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 1994                Archaeology of Western Pennsylvania and the Monongahela Indians.  Reference Manual.  Thematic Loan Kit, Educational Loan Collection.  Carnegie Museum of Natural History,  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 1994                The Monongahela : Prehistoric Pennsylvanians  Students' Book.  Thematic Loan Kit, Educational Loan Collection.  Carnegie Museum of  Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 1994                Archaeology:  Tools and Technology.  Students' Book.  Thematic Loan Kit, Educational Loan Collection.  Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

1992                "A Pewter Effigy Pipe from Pennsylvania in the Collections of The University Museum of Archaeology and  Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania."   Pennsylvania Archaeologist,  62(1): 73‑78.

 1988                "A Report on Previously Unanalysed Material from Cueva Morín. " Gleach, Freeman, Anderson, et. al.  Chicago Anthropology Exchange, 17 (Autumn),  1988.   pages 61‑68.

Kudos

directed

David Anderson, Archaeology & Anthropology, directed "Transcending Eternity: The Centennial Tutankhamun Conference and Celebration" on Nov. 4, 2022, in Luxor, Egypt. In his role as the president of the Board of Governors of the American Research Center in Egypt, Anderson hosted and presented at the international celebration of the the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun ("King Tut"). The four-day celebration included the opening ceremony for the newly renovated expedition house of Howard Carter, a three-day international conference on aspects of the discovery and the reign of Tutankhamun, and a gala event at Luxor Temple attended by over 400 Egyptologists, 40 foreign ambassadors, members of Egypt's parliament and other international dignitaries. The gala was opened with speeches by Dr. Anderson and Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Mr. Ahmed Issa.

Submitted on: Aug. 24, 2023

 

presented

David Anderson, Archaeology & Anthropology, presented "Photogrammetry and 3D Modeling of Pharaonic Sites" at 74th Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt on April 23 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The paper was as part of an invited panel on Digital Humanities in Egyptology. The paper presented ways in which 3D technologies can facilitate the documentation of Pharaonic monuments, open new avenues of research, and make physical remains from Ancient Egypt more accessible for both scholars and the public.

Submitted on: Aug. 24, 2023

 

directed

David Anderson, Archaeology & Anthropology, directed "Advanced Digital Architectural Documentation and Anastylosis using 3D Photogrammetry" on Jan. 8 in Luxor, Egypt. Anderson was invited to conduct a weeklong training seminar in advanced digital documentation of ancient architectural remains and anastylosis using 3D photogrammetry. The training session was for employees of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Training consisted of a combination of classroom presentations at the Karnak Conservation Lab of the American Research Center in Egypt together with experiential learning through on-site, hands-on experience at Khonsu temple documenting the granite architectural fragments from the Amenhotep II/Rameses III bargue shrine recovered from the temple which is part of the larger Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, Egypt. The training program was conducted as part of a larger conservation project being conducted at Khonsu Temple by the American Research Center in Egypt. Some of the resulting 3D documentation will be available for viewing soon.

Submitted on: Feb. 20, 2023

 

directed

David Anderson, Archaeology & Anthropology, directed "Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the American Research Center" on Feb. 17 in Washington, D.C. Alongside Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Abdelrahman Raafat of the Egyptian Embassy, Anderson presided over an event at the Embassy celebrating the 75-year partnership between the American Research Center in Egypt and the government of Egypt in researching, preserving and promoting Egypt's rich cultural heritage while helping to foster connections between the people of Egypt and the United States.

Submitted on: Feb. 20, 2023

 

directed

David Anderson, Archaeology & Anthropology, directed "Training in Digital Documentation of Architectural Remains" on March 13 in Cairo, Egypt. Anderson was invited to conduct a weeklong training seminar in the digital documentation of ancient architectural remains using 3D photogrammetry. The training session was for employees of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Training consisted of a combination of classroom presentations at the Cairo offices of the American Research Center in Egypt together with experiential learning through on-site, hands-on experience documenting the Fatimid Period (12th Century A.D.) Shrine of Ikhwat Youssef in the cemeteries of Old Cairo, https://goo.gl/maps/7Bd2hQ5uogAVKBHx6. Some of the resulting 3D documentation will be available for viewing soon at https://sketchfab.com/danderson4/collections/ikhwat_youssef.

Submitted on: Mar. 21, 2022

 

Memberships & affiliations

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