معرفی
Gabriel Prieto is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He joined the faculty in August 2019 after previously serving as an Assistant Professor at Universidad Nacional de Trujillo in Peru (2017-2019) and holding a Post-doctoral position there in 2016. Dr. Prieto received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University in 2015, specializing in Andean archaeology.
Dr. Prieto's primary research focuses on ancient maritime adaptations along the South Pacific coast, with particular emphasis on the North Coast of Peru. He is renowned for directing the Huanchaco Archaeological Program and for the discovery of what is considered the largest ancient child and camelid sacrifice site ever found at Huanchaquito-Las Llamas. His work has been recognized with the 2019 Shanghai Forum Field Award.
His research employs a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating skeletal analysis, isotopic studies, aDNA research, and examination of ritual practices to understand how ancient societies responded to climatic events like El Niño. Dr. Prieto has secured significant research funding, with over $600,000 awarded as principal investigator for various archaeological projects focused on Peru's North Coast.
Dr. Prieto has published extensively on Andean archaeology, with particular focus on maritime communities, ritual practices, and cultural continuity along Peru's northern coast. His work spans from the Initial Period (3500-1800 BCE) through the Chimú period (AD 900-1470), examining domestic life, ceremonial practices, and societal responses to environmental change.
Among his notable achievements is the co-edited volume "Maritime Communities of the Ancient Andes" (2020) with Daniel H. Sandweiss, which represents a significant contribution to the understanding of ancient coastal societies in South America.
Dr. Prieto actively engages with the public through educational outreach, including a TED-Ed lesson titled "A day in the life of an ancient Peruvian shaman," and maintains active social media presence documenting his archaeological work in Peru.
