Mitch Hendrickson

Mitch Hendrickson is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois Chicago, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He directs major projects such as the Industries of Angkor Project, exploring iron technology and political change in the Khmer Empire, and co-directs the Two Buddhist Towers and Iron and Angkor Projects examining religious transitions and metallurgy.

Education: PhD in Archaeology (University of Sydney, 2007), MA (University of Calgary, 2001), BA (University of Calgary, 1995).

Research focuses on Angkorian Khmer Empire dynamics, including transportation networks, iron production, Buddhist religion, and urban development. His work integrates multi-scalar datasets to address state formation, technological exchange, and material culture. Key projects investigate iron smelting landscapes, temple architecture, and religious transitions at sites like Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and the Midewin Tallgrass Prairie.

Collaborations include international teams at CNRS and the Field Museum. His publications analyze Angkorian road systems, pyrotechnologies, and the role of iron in empire expansion, with recent focus on Theravada Buddhist transitions and archaeological methodological innovations.

Labs/Teams: Industries of Angkor Project, Two Buddhist Towers Project, Iron and Angkor Project, Tallgrass Prairie Archaeological Landscape Project.