Rebecca Storey

Dr. Rebecca Storey is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies at the University of Houston, with a secondary affiliation in Anthropology. She holds a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University and has been a faculty member since 1984. As Graduate Advisor and Chair of the Graduate Committee in the Anthropology Program, she oversees academic and research initiatives. Her research focuses on bioarchaeology, specializing in the skeletal analysis of Mesoamerican populations, particularly at Teotihuacan and Maya sites in Belize and Honduras. Key projects include long-term studies on Teotihuacan’s urban health dynamics, paleodemographic analysis of pre-Hispanic populations, and investigations into ancient migration patterns using isotopic evidence.

• Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University
• Professional Roles: Editorial board member of Ancient Mesoamerica and Cuicuilco ; active member of the American Anthropological Association and Society for American Archaeology

Her research interests span bioarchaeological studies of Teotihuacan and Maya civilizations, including health trends, paleodemography, and the socio-political dynamics of ancient urban centers. Dr. Storey’s work has been featured in documentaries such as Secrets of the Dead (PBS) and the Annenberg Learner series Out of the Past . She has authored/co-authored over 50 publications, including monographs on Teotihuacan and comparative studies of civilizational collapse.

Her advising contributions include mentoring students in bioarchaeology and Mesoamerican studies. She has received grants for fieldwork at sites like Copán, Honduras, and K’axob, Belize. Dr. Storey’s current research continues to explore long-term demographic and health patterns in pre-Columbian societies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding ancient lifeways.