Benjamin Steere

Benjamin Steere is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Western Carolina University (WCU), affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on Cherokee archaeology, Southeastern archaeology, household archaeology, and Indigenous archaeology. Steere holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. He has collaborated extensively with the Tribal Historic Preservation Office of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians since 2011 and directed the Cherokee Studies Program from 2017 to 2022.

His work emphasizes collaborative projects with Indigenous communities, such as the Western North Carolina Mounds and Towns Project, which investigates ancestral Cherokee sites. Key publications include studies on the Nikwasi Mound’s preservation challenges and the integration of Cherokee heritage into WCU’s campus archaeology. Steere also explores archival records to uncover overlooked Indigenous architectural and cultural histories.

Research interests span Mississippian communities, Woodland period monumental architecture, and the intersection of archaeology with modern policy and environmental science. His op-eds advocate for respecting Indigenous knowledge in scientific and public discourse. He teaches courses in anthropology and archaeology at WCU.