Don H. Holly Jr.

Don H. Holly Jr. is Professor and Chair of Anthropology at Eastern Illinois University, where he has taught since 2005. He holds a Ph.D. from Brown University and specializes in the archaeology of hunter-gatherer societies, particularly the Beothuk of Newfoundland. His editorial roles include serving on the board of Northeast Anthropology and former associate editorship at American Antiquity.

His research examines:

• Cultural adaptations in marginal environments
• Impacts of European contact on indigenous technologies
• Settlement evolution in the Eastern Subarctic
• Anthropological theory through archaeological evidence

Recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate methodological diversity including:

• Experimental replication of indigenous metalworking
• Zooarchaeological analysis of subsistence patterns
• Reconstruction of household structures
• Critiques of Arctic cultural memory narratives

He maintains active fieldwork in Newfoundland and mentors students through excavation opportunities and recommendation support.