معرفی
Matthew J. O'Brien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at California State University, Chico, where he also serves as Graduate Coordinator, Co-Coordinator of the Certificate in Cultural Resource Management, and Director of the Archaeological Research Program (ARP). His academic journey includes a B.A. in Anthropology & Economics from St. Lawrence University (2000), an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Wyoming (2006), and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico (2013).
- Education: B.A., St. Lawrence University (2000)
- Education: M.A., University of Wyoming (2006)
- Education: Ph.D., University of New Mexico (2013)
O'Brien's research focuses on the archaeology of North American hunter-gatherers, spanning over 99% of human prehistory. He employs zooarchaeology, lithic analysis, GIS, and quantitative methods to interpret behavior from spatial patterns in the archaeological record. His projects include the social organization of communal hunting via food sharing, co-directing the Dukha Ethnoarchaeological Project in northern Mongolia, excavations at the La Prele Mammoth site in Wyoming, and Great Basin land-use studies in Nevada. His work bridges ethnoarchaeological observations with prehistoric site analysis, emphasizing spatial organization and subsistence strategies.
O'Brien's publications highlight spatial analysis of mobile societies (e.g., Clovis and Folsom cultures), zooarchaeological methods, and ethnoarchaeological studies of the Dukha reindeer herders. His recent fieldwork in the Great Basin investigates Holocene subsistence shifts, while his directorship of ARP involves compliance partnerships and CRM training. Notable trends include interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological innovation in lithic and faunal analysis.
