معرفی
Dr. Colleen Zori serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC) at Baylor University, teaching Natural World I/II and World Cultures II/III. Her research investigates political-economic transformations in ancient societies through archaeological analysis of material culture, with dual fieldwork foci in the Andes and medieval Italy.
Her academic credentials include:
- Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles (2011)
- M.A. in Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles (2004)
- B.A. in Human Biology, Stanford University (2000)
Dr. Zori's research centers on archaeological political economy, examining how shifts in political organization intersect with technological innovation, craft specialization, and exchange networks. Her Andean work analyzes Inka imperial strategies through metallurgical studies and ceramic analysis in Peru/Chile, while her Italian research investigates medieval political dynamics via ceramic production and glass trade at San Giuliano. Key specialties include:
- Andean metallurgical technology and ritual significance
- Imperial incorporation effects on local economies
- Funerary archaeology as political expression
- Interregional trade network reconstruction
- Material culture analysis of social change
Her 2017-2023 publications reveal consistent methodological rigor across geographic contexts, with increasing integration of scientific techniques (ancient DNA, chemical analysis) while maintaining anthropological frameworks. Andean studies dominate early work, with Italian projects gaining prominence after 2018, reflecting strategic comparative development.
As co-director of the San Giuliano Archaeological Research Project, Dr. Zori leads undergraduate fieldwork at a medieval castle complex, providing primary research experience in excavation methodology and material analysis. This Baylor study abroad program serves as both research platform and pedagogical innovation.
The San Giuliano project operates as an international collaborative effort involving Baylor undergraduates, Italian scholars, and specialists in ceramic/glass analysis, focusing on long-term cultural transitions from Etruscan urbanism through medieval fortification systems.
