Jane Eastman

Jane Eastman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Western Carolina University (WCU), part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D., MA, and BA in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on Cherokee cultural heritage, particularly pottery analysis, foodways, gender studies, and cultural landscapes in the Southern Appalachians. She actively participates in the Cherokee Studies program and has contributed to archaeological projects through her training at the Research Labs of Archaeology.

Education:

• PhD in Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• MA in Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• BA in Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Interests: Dr. Eastman explores Cherokee cosmology’s influence on human-environment interactions, pottery manufacturing techniques, and spatial patterning. Her work integrates archaeological methods with cultural anthropology to understand historical and contemporary Indigenous practices.

Teaching: She teaches courses such as Southeastern Archaeology, Experimental Archaeology, and Archaeology of Death, alongside field schools and laboratory analysis. Recent special topics include the Archaeology of Sacred Landscapes.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Cherokee Studies program and previously worked with Coastal Carolina Research (CRM firm) and the Research Labs of Archaeology during her training.