Christopher Watts

Christopher Watts is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Waterloo. His research integrates archaeological theory, Indigenous collaboration, and material culture analysis to study the Woodland Period (ca. CE 1-1550) cultural traditions of the lower Great Lakes region.

His work explores:

• Relational ontologies in archaeological contexts
• Materiality and affective engagement with artifacts
• Woodland Period earthen enclosures in southwestern Ontario
• Transmedial analysis of geometric designs
• Agentive qualities of ceramic artifacts

Recent publications examine Indigenous iconological sovereignty, Iroquoian effigy pipes, and GIS-based spatial analyses of archaeological sites. Dr. Watts teaches courses including ANTH 201 (Introduction to Archaeology), ANTH 309 (Archaeology of North America), and ANTH 415 (Archaeologies of Landscape).

His research methodology emphasizes:

• Indigenous scholarship integration
• Contextual artifact analysis
• Excavation and fieldwork in Essex County
• Museum collections research
• Ontological approaches to material culture

Dr. Watts welcomes graduate students in Waterloo's MA program in Public Issues Anthropology.