Terry L. Jones

Terry L. Jones is a Professor of Anthropology at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo. He joined the faculty in 1998 and specializes in North American prehistory, hunter-gatherer ecology, and maritime adaptations, with a geographic focus on central California. His research includes studies on Holocene drought impacts, prehistoric fishing, and possible Polynesian contact with the Americas. Jones teaches courses such as Cultural Anthropology, World Prehistory, and Archaeological Field Methods.

He earned a Ph.D. (1995) and M.A. (1989) in Anthropology from UC Davis, an M.A. in Cultural Resources Management from Sonoma State (1982), and a B.A. in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz (1978). His work integrates field research with academic instruction, notably through Cal Poly's archaeological field classes at the Pecho Coast.

Key honors include the David A. Fredrickson Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), Governor’s Historic Preservation Award (2018), and multiple teaching/research awards from Cal Poly. His publications span 40+ years, addressing topics like Holocene environmental change, prehistoric resource management, and bioarchaeological studies of violence.

Recent projects include analyses of Chendytes lawi extinction, diablo canyon faunal remains, and medieval drought refugia in Morro Bay. Collaborations with Brian Codding and Kenneth Gobalet highlight themes of coastal adaptation and paleoclimatic impacts.