Mackenthun

Professor Mackenthun leads the research project American Antiquities at Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, examining how American prehistory has been constructed through colonial and neocolonial knowledge production. The project critically analyzes the relationship between academic research, legal battles over land stewardship, and public fascination with antiquity in North America.

Research interests focus on

• Colonial constructions of American historical narratives
• Indigenous scholarly contributions to archaeological discourse
• Legal implications of pre-Columbian knowledge in contemporary land disputes
• Popular representations of American antiquity in media and education

Recent publications reveal trends connecting geographical naming practices, national park development, and the representation of indigenous heritage. Articles explore how landmarks like Mount Coffin and Denali became sites of colonial contestation, while analyses of figures like Vine Deloria, Jr. and Ella E. Clark demonstrate evolving scholarly approaches to indigenous knowledge.

Award recognition includes contributions to decolonial scholarship, though specific honors aren't detailed in available materials.

The project maintains significant institutional partnerships examining how colonial knowledge frameworks continue to shape contemporary understandings of American history and identity. Research methodology combines historical analysis with critical theory to deconstruct dominant narratives about American antiquity.