معرفی
Robert I. MacDonald serves as President of Archaeological Services Inc. (ASI) and holds an academic appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Waterloo. He concurrently serves as Adjunct Faculty in Trent University's Anthropology Graduate Program and Research Fellow at the Trent University Archaeological Research Centre. With over 40 years of experience, his career bridges academic research and large-scale heritage management across Ontario.
His educational background includes:
- Honours Bachelor of Science in Anthropology, Trent University
- Master of Arts in Anthropology, Trent University
- Doctorate in Anthropology, McGill University
Dr. MacDonald specializes in ecological archaeology and GIS-driven site potential modeling, with significant contributions to Iroquoian archaeology and lithic analysis. His work integrates critical heritage studies into practical frameworks, notably developing pre-contact Indigenous site models for 15 Ontario municipalities including Toronto, Ottawa, and Niagara Region. This research directly informs environmental assessment protocols for major infrastructure projects.
His scholarly output spans over forty publications, highlighted by the 1998 co-authored book Legacy of Stone: Ancient Life on the Niagara Frontier and contributions to Archaeology in America (2008) and Toronto: An Illustrated History (2008). These works emphasize Indigenous heritage preservation and interdisciplinary methodological innovation.
As past-president of the Ontario Archaeological Society (2014/15), Dr. MacDonald shaped provincial heritage policy while directing ASI's archaeological components for projects like Highway 407 East. His leadership extends to co-organizing international conferences through Waterloo's Quaternary Sciences Institute and advising on the Waterloo Region Museum's First Nations exhibit.
He oversees ASI's multidisciplinary teams conducting province-wide assessments and collaborates with Indigenous communities through ventures like Yändata’ Limited Partnership, where he serves as Director alongside Huron Wendat Nation leadership.
