"Integrating Geoscience into Instructionally-Based Archaeological Research on the Anasazi in Southern Utah" (with E. Ambos, senior author). Journal of Geological Education 42(5): 424-431, 1994.

Abstract Geology and anthropology students and faculty at California State University at Long Beach are integrating multidisciplinary approaches to the study of prehistoric Anasazi sites in southern Utah. Students enrolled in field-study courses participate in archaeological data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Concurrently, they enhance their understanding of the Anasazi sites through application of advanced geophysical exploration techniques and concepts of field geology and paleoclimatology. This complementary educational and research program offers the students diverse strategies to thoroughly address cultural heritage assessment, not only within a site-specific framework, but also within a broader environmental context.

Faculty and students in the geological science and anthropology departments at California State University at Long Beach (hereafter CSULB) have recently joined forces to investigate the Virgin Branch (or Western) Anasazi culture. "Virgin Brach" refers to the drainage basin of the Virgin River in Utah and Nevada, which still serves as a major surface water resource (Figure 1). The Virgin Branch Anasazi culture flourished in the southern Great Basin and northern Colorado Plateau region of the American southwest (south Utah, Nevada, northern Arizona) from approximately 300 to 1300 A.D. The Anasazi abruptly disappeared from the region toward the end of the 13th century.

This work reflects our commitment to education in geology and archaeology. We use our work as a model for interdisciplinary research with undergraduate and graduate students in geophysical research. We think that it is extremely important to involve students at all levels in the investigative process. In fact, Professor Ambos and I have had more than fifty students work with us on the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, Santa Ynez Valley, and at the Santa Barbara Presidio in the last five years. Several of our graduate students are using the results of this research in their thesis projects. Thus, our comment to education is strong and we have tried to use this work to stimulate others to undertake these efforts in archaeology and geophysics.