Donald Linebaugh

Donald Linebaugh is a Professor in the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Maryland's School of the Built Environment. He previously served as Interim Dean (2018–2021) and held leadership roles such as Director of the Historic Preservation Program and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research. Before joining Maryland, he was Director of the Program for Archaeological Research at the University of Kentucky (1997–2004), where he oversaw over 400 cultural resource management projects. Earlier, he served as Co-Director of the Center for Archaeological Research at the College of William and Mary (1985–1994).

Linebaugh’s research focuses on historical archaeology, historic preservation, and cultural landscapes. Key areas include early urban centers, colonial Chesapeake plantations, Norwegian and German immigrant settlements, and industrial sites. He authored The Man Who Found Thoreau: Roland Wells Robbins and the Rise of Historical Archaeology (2005) and co-edited volumes on the Saugus Iron Works and the Saratoga Campaign battlefield. His work integrates archaeology with social, economic, and political history through projects like the analysis of a 19th-century New England general store and the Kippax Plantation in Virginia.

His publications span archaeological reports, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Historical Archaeology and Material Culture. Notable projects include the Springfield Gas Machine study (2012) and the architectural survey of Eckley Miners’ Village (2018). Linebaugh holds a PhD in American Studies (1996) and an MA in Anthropology (1982) from the College of William and Mary, and a BS in Environmental Science from Grand Valley State University.

Linebaugh has led projects in collaboration with national parks, museums, and communities, emphasizing the intersection of archaeology with heritage preservation and public engagement. His work bridges academic research with applied cultural resource management, contributing to both scholarly discourse and tangible preservation outcomes.