Jennifer Farquhar

Jennifer Farquhar is a Researcher affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Anthropology and a Principal Archaeologist at Albion Environmental, Inc. She leads research on pastoralism evolution and human-environment interactions in Mongolia's desert-steppe regions through the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve project. Her work spans over 25 years of archaeological fieldwork in California and the Great Basin, with expertise in lithic technology and cultural resource management.

Education:

• PhD in Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh (2022)
• MA in Anthropology, California State University, Sacramento (2003)
• BA in Anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz (1989)

Research Interests: Her studies focus on mobility patterns during the Neolithic-Bronze Age Transition, social complexity among nomadic pastoralists, and desertification impacts. She integrates geoarchaeological methods with archaeological data to explore long-term human-environment dynamics.

Key Contributions: Farquhar has published on Gobi Desert vegetation cycles, California coastal archaeology, and lithic technologies. Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, collaborating with the NOMAD Science Mongolia initiative and international scholars.

Awards:

• National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant (2019)
• Fulbright Specialist Program Grantee (2015)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2015-2019)

Professional Roles: She served as President of the Society for California Archaeology (2010-2013) and teaches prehistoric lithic technology. Current projects include Mongolian pastoralism studies and environmental archaeology.