Sarah Baitzel

Sarah Baitzel is an Associate Professor of Archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis, specializing in Andean archaeology, state collapse, mortuary practices, and pastoralism. Her research focuses on ancient agropastoralist societies in Peru, particularly the Tiwanaku culture, and explores themes of social identity, ritual, and mobility. She leads interdisciplinary projects in the Sama Valley, including excavations at Los Batanes and collaborations with the Peruvian Ministerio de Cultura to preserve archaeological sites threatened by urban expansion.

Education: PhD in Archaeology from the University of California, San Diego.

Research interests include the interplay of identity, ritual, diet, and mobility in ancient Andean societies. She co-directs the CIAAST research facility in Peru, supporting lab analyses and conservation efforts, and collaborates on paleo-mobility studies using isotopic analyses. Her work also examines high-altitude settlements in the Sibinacocha Valley and the role of textiles in mortuary practices. Recent publications address Tiwanaku iconography, mortuary archaeology, and environmental adaptations in the Andes.

Advising and collaborations: She mentors graduate students and leads international teams, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to archaeological preservation and heritage sustainability. Her research has been featured in media including WashU’s Source and Bedrock Filmworks.