Ken Hirth

Ken Hirth is a Professor of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University, based in the Department of Anthropology. His research focuses on the origin and development of complex societies in the New World, emphasizing political economy and structural inequalities through resource control analysis. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Mesoamerica and Andean regions.

Education:

• B.B.A., Marketing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1971
• M.A., Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1972
• Ph.D., Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1974

His research interests include exchange systems, craft production, settlement patterns, and preindustrial urbanism. Methodologically, he specializes in lithic technology, ceramics analysis, spatial analysis, and use-wear studies. Recent publications explore urbanism in Peru, Honduran chiefdom economies, and global ancient economic systems.

Teaching responsibilities include courses like 'Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas,' 'Meso-American Archaeology,' and 'Economic Anthropology.' His work has been funded through Penn State's Anthropology Department and external grants, though specific grant details are not provided here.

Dr. Hirth collaborates with international teams and maintains a research lab focused on Mesoamerican and Andean archaeology, though specific lab names are partially obscured in the source text. His career reflects over four decades of contributions to understanding ancient socio-political structures through material culture.