Catherine Cameron

Catherine Cameron is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Colorado, specializing in archaeology of the American Southwest with a focus on the Chaco Phenomenon and prehistoric population movements. She has conducted fieldwork in Chaco Canyon, northeastern Arizona, and southeastern Utah, including excavations at the Bluff Great House site.

Her research explores migration dynamics, particularly the role of captives in ancient societies. She has published extensively on abandonment processes, cultural diffusion, and slavery studies, with notable works including Captives: How Stolen People Changed the World (2016) and Landscapes of Movement and Predation (2024). Her recent publications analyze warfare, inequality, and global slavery patterns.

Scientific awards include the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title (2016, 2018) and the Gordon R. Willey Prize (2016). She has collaborated on projects with the Bureau of Land Management and contributed to major edited volumes in archaeology and anthropology.

• Email: catherine.cameron@colorado.edu
• Contact: 303-492-0408