Christopher B. Rodning

Christopher B. Rodning is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Tulane University, affiliated with the School of Liberal Arts. His research focuses on North American archaeology, particularly the intersection of Native American cultures with European colonialism in the southeastern United States. He earned his A.B. from Harvard University (1994) and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2004).

His work emphasizes relationships between people and place, studying monuments, mortuary practices, and architectural symbolism. Notably, he co-leads investigations at the Berry Site in western North Carolina, where the 16th-century Spanish Fort San Juan was discovered—a pivotal site revealing early colonial encounters between Native Americans and Europeans. His research also explores Cherokee townhouses, cultural landscapes, and resilience in dynamic environments like the Lower Mississippi Valley.

Rodning has authored/co-authored seminal books such as Center Places and Cherokee Towns (2015) and Fort San Juan and the Limits of Empire (2016). He has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Patty Jo Watson Award (2016) and the National History Medal (2010). His fieldwork and community engagement include collaborations with the Exploring Joara Foundation, promoting archaeological education and heritage preservation.

• Grants: NSF grants (2006, 2016), Louisiana Board of Regents Research Grant (2012)
• Projects: Berry Site excavations, Lower Mississippi Valley Landscape Archaeology Project