Helina Woldekiros

Helina Woldekiros is an Associate Professor of Archaeology in the Department of Anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds a PhD from the same university. Her research focuses on human adaptations in the Horn of Africa, particularly during the emergence of food production, pastoralism, and responses to climatic change. She specializes in Old World Archaeology, Zooarchaeology, and Ethnoarchaeology, with a focus on state formation, trade networks, and biodiversity in agricultural systems.

Education:

• PhD in Archaeology, Washington University in St. Louis

Research interests include the Aksumite civilization, ancient trade routes (e.g., the Afar Salt Trail), and faunal studies of animals like chickens and cattle. She examines how economic strategies and environmental adaptations shaped complex societies in the region. Her interdisciplinary work combines osteological analysis, isotopic studies, and ethnographic insights to explore human-animal relationships and resilience in extreme environments.

Publications reflect a focus on animal domestication in Africa, ancient trade dynamics, and urban archaeology. Awards include grants from the Fulbright-Hays, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and National Science Foundation. She collaborates on excavations such as Beta Samati and studies global caravan networks, emphasizing comparative approaches to mobility and economic organization.

Advising and Grants: Her work has been supported by major grants, enabling fieldwork in Ethiopia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Florida. She actively explores the socio-political role of salt trade in early states and contemporary livelihoods along the Salt Route.

Labs/Teams: Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations, including excavations and global caravan studies. Her research integrates archaeological, anthropological, and environmental methodologies to address long-term societal resilience.