Dissertation Research

My dissertation research focuses on the manifestations of sexism, racism, and heteronormativity in the discipline of archaeology. Using quantitative and qualitative sociological methods, I explore the experiences of women archaeologists, archaeologists of color, and queer archaeologists in their work, and the ways that the identities and experiences of archaeologists affect the knowledge that they produce about the human past.

This work is grounded in intersectional feminism, critical race theory, and queer theory.
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Excavating at Tepeticpac, Tlaxcala, Mexico in 2013

Previous Projects

My pre-dissertation research focused on everyday life and religion in central Mexico during the late Postclassic (c. 1250–1521 CE) and early Colonial (1521–c. 1700 CE) periods. Using archaeological excavation and ceramic analysis, I examined ordinary people's everyday lives and how they interacted with larger political, religious, and social systems.  I spent several field seasons working at the site of Tepeticpac, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
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My M.A. thesis work focused on the Postclassic period, using ceramics from a household midden at the site of La Laguna, Tlaxcala. An article based on this research has recently been submitted to a journal for publication.