Justin Cramb

Justin Cramb is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He holds a PhD from the University of Georgia (2020) and specializes in zooarchaeology, ethnohistory, and historical archaeology. His research focuses on socioecological resilience and collapse in Pacific Island societies, particularly the Northern Cook Islands' Manihiki and Rakahanga atolls. He manages UAF's Zooarchaeology Lab and has expanded his research to include Alaska's interior, studying historical population movements and site abandonment. Cramb teaches courses ranging from introductory anthropology to specialized topics like zooarchaeology and archaeological field methods.

Education: PhD in Anthropology, University of Georgia, 2020.

Research Interests: Cramb investigates human-environment interactions, long-term sustainability in marginal environments, and animal translocation in Oceania. His work integrates archaeological, ethnohistoric, and environmental data to explore cultural persistence, resource management, and European contact impacts. Recent projects include analyzing dog management and fish-use patterns across Oceania using zooarchaeological and historical records.

Media & Outreach: Featured in Kia Orana Podcast (2023), The Tel (2022), Speaking of Anthropology (2022), and KUAC Radio Lab (2021). His work highlights interdisciplinary approaches to understanding ancient and modern human-environment dynamics.

Lab & Resources: Oversees the Zooarchaeology Lab in Bunnell Building 408, housing comparative collections critical for identifying animal remains. This facility supports both his research and student training in taphonomy and zooarchaeological analysis.