H. Kory Cooper

H. Kory Cooper is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Purdue University with a courtesy appointment in the School of Materials Engineering. His academic work bridges archaeology and materials science, focusing on prehistoric metal use, particularly native copper, and its implications for social complexity and trade networks.

• Main Appointment: Department of Anthropology
• Courtesy Appointment: School of Materials Engineering, Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering

Dr. Cooper's research spans diverse geographic and temporal contexts, including the Arctic, Subarctic, Northwest Coast, and the Mediterranean. Key areas of interest include:

• Archaeometry (e.g., isotope analysis for provenance)
• Prehistoric Technology (e.g., copper innovation in British Columbia)
• Social Complexity (e.g., copper's role in status systems)
• Trade Networks (e.g., Central Asia's medieval trade routes)
• Contemporary Material Culture (e.g., e-waste lifecycles)
• Corrosion Science (e.g., metal-plastic interactions in plumbing)

His publications highlight a strong focus on native copper provenance (using lead isotopes and trace elements), innovation in hunter-gatherer societies, and interdisciplinary methodologies combining archaeology, chemistry, and ethnohistory. While earlier works examine Late Roman-Byzantine artifacts and Yukon-Alaska case studies, recent research extends to modern waste materialities and geographic frameworks for artifact sourcing.