Anne Pyburn

Anne Pyburn is an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University's Hamilton Lugar School in Bloomington, affiliated with the Affiliated Faculty department. Her research focuses on Maya archaeology, settlement patterns, gender studies, and ethical considerations in archaeology. She has conducted major excavations in Belize, examining ancient Maya urbanism and challenging traditional developmental models.

Education:

• Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Arizona (1988)
• M.A., Anthropology, University of Arizona (1984)
• B.A., Anthropology, Reed College (1977)

Her work critiques teleological frameworks in archaeology, emphasizing historical specificity over evolutionary narratives. She advocates for archaeology's role in informing contemporary policy through ethical engagement, particularly regarding gender and sociopolitical agendas.

Teaching & Outreach: Pyburn teaches archaeological methods, ethics, and Mesoamerican cultures. She runs a Belize field program and co-leads the NSF-funded MATRIX project to improve archaeology education. She contributed to IU's Archaeology and Social Context graduate program and collaborates on a textbook with Rosemary Joyce.

Professional Activities:

• Ethics Committee, American Anthropological Association (2001–2004)
• Associate Editor for Latin American Antiquity (2002–2004)
• Committee on Archaeology in Higher Education, Archaeological Institute of America (2000–2003)

Her research spans Belize, Egypt, Canada, Germany, and other regions, with a focus on decolonizing archaeological narratives and enhancing critical pedagogy in higher education.