Elizabeth Klarich

Elizabeth Klarich is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Department Chair at Smith College. She specializes in Andean prehistory, focusing on the Lake Titicaca Basin of Peru and Bolivia. Her research explores the origins of inequality, early urbanism, and the intersection of prehistory with modern identity politics. Klarich directs excavations at the Pukara archaeological site and co-directs the Museo Lítico Pukara. She holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago and M.A./Ph.D. from University of California, Santa Barbara.

Education:

• B.A., University of Chicago
• M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
• Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara

Research Interests: Her work combines field archaeology with community collaboration, emphasizing interdisciplinary methods such as settlement surveys, ground-penetrating radar, and artifact analysis. Recent projects investigate agro-pastoral strategies, monumental architecture, and the socio-political dynamics of early urban centers in the Andes. She advocates for culturally sensitive archaeology that empowers local communities through heritage preservation and economic development.

Grants & Funding: Research supported by the National Science Foundation, Fulbright-Hays, Heinz Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and UC Santa Barbara.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Pukara Archaeological Project, collaborates with Peruvian Ministry of Culture, and mentors an international team of students and researchers. The Museo Lítico Pukara project involves local communities in documenting traditional pottery practices and modern livelihoods.