Patrick J. Mullins

Patrick J. Mullins serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at Washington College, where he integrates archaeological data, archival research, and geospatial technologies to reconstruct ancient South American landscapes for academic and public audiences. His fieldwork spans 15 years of archaeological research in Peru.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh (2022)
• M.A. in Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh (2015)
• B.A. in Archaeology & Ancient/Medieval History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2012)

Dr. Mullins specializes in Andean borderland archaeology, employing aerial drone mapping and GIS analysis to investigate imperial frontiers, settlement patterns, and conflict dynamics between the Chimú and Inka Empires. His research centers on fortified sites in the Moche Valley and Carabamba Plateau, examining how ancient communities navigated imperial expansion through defensive architectures and landscape modifications. He actively incorporates undergraduate students into fieldwork through summer programs in Peru.

His recent publications (2016-2023) reveal consistent focus on borderland dynamics, defensive networks, and spatial analysis in pre-Columbian Peru. Key trends include the application of geospatial technologies to ancient frontier zones, interdisciplinary reconstruction of political landscapes, and contextualization of archaeological findings within broader Andean historical frameworks. His work bridges archaeological science with public engagement through digital mapping and 3D modeling.

His scholarly recognition includes:

• National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (2017)
• Dumbarton Oaks Junior Fellowship in Pre-Columbian Studies (2018-19)
• Brennan Foundation Grant (2023)
• Sainsbury Research Unit Visiting Fellowship (2023)
• Hodson Trust Collaborative Summer Research Grant (2024)

Dr. Mullins directs the Moche Valley Settlement Database (MVSD) project and co-leads the Proyecto Arqueológico Historia y Prehistoria de los Guacapongos y Llampas (PAGuaL) with international collaborators. His grant portfolio supports drone-based fieldwork, student training, and community development initiatives in Peru. Current projects include summer 2024 mapping of fortified towns in the Carabamba Plateau to investigate Chimú-Inka frontier relations.

He maintains active collaboration with researchers from Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Northern Illinois University, and Universidad Nacional de Trujillo through PAGuaL, while building comprehensive GIS resources through the MVSD that integrate prehistoric and colonial-era settlement data across 1,700 km² of the Moche Valley.