Scott C Smith

Scott C Smith is Professor of Anthropology and Program Chair of Latin American and LatinX Studies at San Jose State University, specializing in Andean archaeology with a focus on Bolivia's Lake Titicaca Basin. His research examines political landscapes, ritual practices, and human-environment interactions in ancient Tiwanaku societies.

Education:

• Ph.D. and M.A., University of California, Riverside
• B.A., Drew University

Research Focus: Dr. Smith's work integrates landscape archaeology with political anthropology to analyze how ancient Andean communities constructed power through ceremonial spaces and territorial networks. His innovative use of GIS spatial analysis reveals patterns in settlement organization, funerary practices, and resource management during the Formative Period (200 BC–AD 500), particularly at sites like Khonkho Wankane and the Upper Desaguadero Valley.

Publication Trends: His 15 most recent works (2025–2012) demonstrate evolving emphasis from Tiwanaku iconography toward transhistorical environmental studies, with increasing focus on water infrastructure, community resilience, and Bayesian chronological modeling. Recurring themes include political connectivity through caravan routes, mortuary practices as social memory, and the interplay between ritual landscapes and state formation.