Charles E. Orser, Jr.

Charles E. Orser, Jr. is a Research Professor at Vanderbilt University and an Adjunct Research Professor at Western University, both in the Department of Anthropology. He also serves as a Senior Historical Archaeologist at TMHC. Orser holds a PhD (1980) and has conducted excavations across the United States, Europe (Ireland/England), and South America (Brazil). His research focuses on post-1492 historical archaeology, emphasizing social inequality, slavery, globalization, and the archaeology of race. He is the author of over 90 articles and numerous books, including Historical Archaeology (3rd ed.), A Historical Archaeology of the Modern World, and The Archaeology of Race and Racialization in Historic America. He founded and edits the International Journal of Historical Archaeology.

Education:

• PhD in Anthropology (1980)

Research Interests: Orser investigates the modern world through historical archaeology, focusing on practice theory, socio-spatial networks, and global colonial dynamics. His work critiques systems of power, including slavery, poverty, and racial discrimination, with a regional emphasis on eastern North America and Brazil. He explores material culture’s role in societal structures and the impact of globalization on consumer practices.

Awards:

• 2019 J. C. Harrington Medal from the Society for Historical Archaeology

Labs/Teams: Active with TMHC (likely The Museum of Health Care or another acronym-based organization) as a Senior Archaeologist, contributing to interdisciplinary archaeological research projects. His work often intersects with academic and institutional collaborations.