Heather Miller

Dr. Heather Miller is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) specializing in South Asian archaeology. Her research spans prehistory and history, focusing on complex societies, ancient technology, material culture, and regional interconnections. She is affiliated with the Trent University Archaeology Research Centre (TUARC) and the Centre for South Asian Studies at the University of Toronto.

Her work centers on medieval/Islamic period trade and communication routes in northwestern Pakistan, particularly through Peshawar. The Caravanserai Networks Project examines economic, political, and social aspects of historical contact along these routes, including a database of travel amenities. Current fieldwork develops a pottery typology for Gor Khuttree excavations, conducted with the Directorate for Archaeology and Museums of the NWFP.

Dr. Miller’s research is funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the Connaught Foundation. She collaborates closely with Prof. Ihsan Ali, formerly of the NWFP Directorate and now Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hazara, Pakistan. Her publications address Indus Civilization metallurgy, urban craft production, transportation systems, and technological approaches in archaeology.

Her graduate advisee includes Rachele Andrea Bianchi. Research keywords include archaeology, South Asia, prehistory, complex societies, ancient technology, material culture, and agriculture. She has authored a book on archaeological methods for technology analysis and contributed to edited volumes on Indus and Mughal transportation systems, craft organization, and socio-economic associations.