Alison Carter

Dr. Alison Carter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oregon, specializing in Southeast Asian Archaeology with a focus on Cambodia's Angkorian civilization. She serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies and leads the Southeast Asian Archaeology Lab in Condon Hall.

• PhD in Anthropology from University of Wisconsin-Madison (2013)

Her research explores political economy, household archaeology, and climate change impacts on ancient societies. She co-directs the ProjecT Excavating Ancient Households (Pteah Cambodia), analyzing residential spaces from Pre-Angkorian to Post-Angkorian periods.

Recent publications emphasize glass and stone bead analysis (2025), Angkorian urbanism (2024), and protohistoric trade networks (2023). Key methodologies include LA-ICP-MS for material sourcing and LIDAR surveys for landscape analysis.

Scientific recognition includes:

• NSF grant for Battambang Province research
• Featured in IMAX film Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia

As advisor to PhD candidate Tiyas Bhattacharyya, she advances collaborative research with Cambodian institutions like the APSARA Authority. Her work bridges traditional archaeology with modern climate change policy lessons through the Greater Angkor Project.