Michael Blakey

Dr. Michael Blakey is a Professor of Anthropology at the College of William & Mary, directing the Institute for Historical Biology (IHB). His research focuses on the intersection of human biology, culture, and social inequality. He leads studies on the bioarchaeology of the African Diaspora, including work on the 17th-18th century African Burial Ground in New York City.

• Education: PhD in Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Amherst (1985)

Research interests include the social history of biological theories, racial ideology, and museum interpretation. He develops methods in dental paleopathology and critiques the political economy of health in industrial societies.

The Institute for Historical Biology, under his direction, integrates bioarchaeological research with public engagement, emphasizing ethical and epistemological frameworks.