J. Mark Kenoyer

J. Mark Kenoyer is the George F. Dales Jr. and Barbara A. Dales Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, serving as Associate Chair and Undergraduate Advisor. He joined the faculty in 1985 and holds affiliations with the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia. His research focuses on the archaeology of the Indus Civilization, ancient technology, and socio-political organization in South Asia and beyond.

Dr. Kenoyer earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley (1983). He has conducted extensive fieldwork since 1975, including excavations at Harappa, Pakistan, and ethnoarchaeological studies in India, China, and Oman. His work emphasizes craft specialization, trade networks, and the origins of urbanism, leveraging experimental archaeology and archaeometric techniques.

Key areas of research include ancient technologies (textiles, metallurgy), Indus iconography, and trans-regional connections between South Asia and Mesopotamia. His contributions include co-editing From Sumer to Meluhha (1994) and curating major exhibitions like Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization (1998–99). He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011.

Teaching spans courses on archaeology, ancient technology, and prehistoric principles. His publications explore Indus trade, burial traditions, and the role of artifacts in reconstructing socio-economic systems. Current projects continue to unravel the mysteries of early urbanization and cultural exchange in ancient Asia.