Catherine M. Cameron
Encyclopedia
Catherine M. Cameron is a professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder whose research focuses on the American Southwest, specializing on the Chacoan and post-Chacoan area. Dr.Cameron’s work has covered topics from prehistoric population movement, the evolution of complex societies as understood through the study of regional social and political systems, methodology of social boundaries in the past and prehistoric architecture. More current research includes pre-state societies’ captives and how they influence cultural transmission.
, and was raised in the San Francisco Bay area (Palo Alto, Oakland, and Concord). Dr.Cameron developed a strong interest in archaeology at an early age. In an interview conducted by F. Joan Mathien and Joyce M. Raab for the Chaco Canyon Field School Project, Dr.Cameron stated that “[she] had always been interested in history as a kid. [Her] dad was very interested in history.” This early interest made anthropology very appealing when she was choosing her career path.
In 1979, she married Stephen H. Lekson, a fellow southwestern archaeologist. Dr. Lekson also works in the Anthropology department in the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
. Throughout her career Dr. Cameron has written or edited three books, participated in two others and has written a number of professional papers. She has given more than 50 presentations at conferences.
in 1970 and continued on to receive a Masters in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico
in 1973. In 1991 Dr.Cameron returned for her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Arizona
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’s Chaco Center (1975–1982), on the Black Mesa Archaeological Project (1982–1985), and at the Coronado National Forest
(1987–1990). While working on her Ph.D., Dr.Cameron worked in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
at the University of Arizona (1988–1990). Upon completion of the Ph.D. program in 1991, Dr.Cameron began working for the School of American Research in Santa Fe as an archaeological consultant (1991–1992). From 1992–1995, Dr.Cameron worked for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
which is a Federal agency that promotes the preservation of historic and archaeological properties. In 1996, Dr.Cameron became an Assistant Professor for the Department of Anthropology and Associate Curator in the Anthropology Section at the University Museum, University of Colorado, Boulder. In 2001 she was promoted to Associate Professor and remains in that position to date (May, 2009). Dr. Cameron expects a promotion to Full Professor by this summer (2009).
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The Bluff Great House in Utah which was a part of the Chacoan Regional System was another major research area for Cameron. At Bluff Great House Cameron co-directed the site with Dr. Stephen H. Lekson. The site was of particular interest because of its seeming reconstruction during the Post-Chacoan Era, beginning around AD 1150, when many sites were being abandoned in the area.
The Comb Wash community, Utah is an important area located about 25 km northwest of Bluff Great House and contains a site that is believed to be another place which was occupied during and after Chaco-era.
Cameron has focused on the analysis of architecture and its uses, worldwide studies on migration and captive women, and lithic analysis. Cameron emphasizes work with volunteers, presenting her research to the public, and consulting with Native American groups.
Background
Dr.Cameron was born in Santa Rosa, CaliforniaSanta Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, and was raised in the San Francisco Bay area (Palo Alto, Oakland, and Concord). Dr.Cameron developed a strong interest in archaeology at an early age. In an interview conducted by F. Joan Mathien and Joyce M. Raab for the Chaco Canyon Field School Project, Dr.Cameron stated that “[she] had always been interested in history as a kid. [Her] dad was very interested in history.” This early interest made anthropology very appealing when she was choosing her career path.
In 1979, she married Stephen H. Lekson, a fellow southwestern archaeologist. Dr. Lekson also works in the Anthropology department in the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is a museum of natural history in Boulder, Colorado. With more than four million artifacts and specimens in the areas of anthropology, botany, entomology, paleontology and zoology, the museum houses one of the most extensive and respected...
. Throughout her career Dr. Cameron has written or edited three books, participated in two others and has written a number of professional papers. She has given more than 50 presentations at conferences.
Education
Dr.Cameron obtained her Bachelors degree in Anthropology at the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1970 and continued on to receive a Masters in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in 1973. In 1991 Dr.Cameron returned for her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
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Employment History
After receiving her Masters degree, Dr.Cameron worked several jobs as an archaeologist and lithic analyst on the San Juan Valley Archaeological Project (1974–1975), at the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
’s Chaco Center (1975–1982), on the Black Mesa Archaeological Project (1982–1985), and at the Coronado National Forest
Coronado National Forest
The Coronado National Forest includes an area of about 1.78 million acres spread throughout mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico....
(1987–1990). While working on her Ph.D., Dr.Cameron worked in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research was established in 1937 by A.E. Douglass, founder of the modern science of dendrochronology. The LTRR is a research unit in the College of Science at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona...
at the University of Arizona (1988–1990). Upon completion of the Ph.D. program in 1991, Dr.Cameron began working for the School of American Research in Santa Fe as an archaeological consultant (1991–1992). From 1992–1995, Dr.Cameron worked for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is an independent agency of the United States government that promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of the nation's historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy.The goal of the...
which is a Federal agency that promotes the preservation of historic and archaeological properties. In 1996, Dr.Cameron became an Assistant Professor for the Department of Anthropology and Associate Curator in the Anthropology Section at the University Museum, University of Colorado, Boulder. In 2001 she was promoted to Associate Professor and remains in that position to date (May, 2009). Dr. Cameron expects a promotion to Full Professor by this summer (2009).
Selected Awards and Elected/Appointed Positions
Dr. Cameron received Colorado University’s Outstanding Graduate Advising Award for 2001-2. She was the Program Chair, for the Society for American Archaeology’s 2002 Annual Meeting. She was also chosen as the 2010-2011 Weatherhead Resident Scholar by the School for Advanced ResearchSchool for Advanced Research
The School for Advanced Research on the Human Experience , until 2007 known as the School of American Research and originally founded in 1907 as the School for American Archaeology , is an advanced research center located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA...
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Research Emphasis
Cameron has emphasized the evolution of complex societies, paleodemography, and resource procurement and lithic studies. She has studied these subjects through the sites at Chaco Canyon National Park in New Mexico, an early center for the Four Corners region of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado which dates to about AD 850 to AD 1250.The Bluff Great House in Utah which was a part of the Chacoan Regional System was another major research area for Cameron. At Bluff Great House Cameron co-directed the site with Dr. Stephen H. Lekson. The site was of particular interest because of its seeming reconstruction during the Post-Chacoan Era, beginning around AD 1150, when many sites were being abandoned in the area.
The Comb Wash community, Utah is an important area located about 25 km northwest of Bluff Great House and contains a site that is believed to be another place which was occupied during and after Chaco-era.
Cameron has focused on the analysis of architecture and its uses, worldwide studies on migration and captive women, and lithic analysis. Cameron emphasizes work with volunteers, presenting her research to the public, and consulting with Native American groups.
Books and Monographs
- (ed. with Steve A. Tomka), The Abandonment of Settlements and Regions: Ethnoarchaeological and Archaeological Approaches. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1993.
- (with Winifred Creamer and John Beal), The Architecture of Arroyo Hondo Pueblo, New Mexico. School of American Research Press, Santa Fe, 1993. Cameron wrote portions of and extensively revised the manuscript
- Hopi Dwellings: Architecture at Orayvi. University of Arizona Press, 1999.
- (ed.) Invisible Citizens: Captives and their Consequences. University of Utah Press, 2008.
- Chaco and After in the Northern San Juan: Excavations at the Bluff Great House. University of Arizona Press, 2009.
Selected Journal Articles
- 'Pink Chert, Projectile Points, and the Chacoan Regional System', American AntiquityAmerican AntiquityThe professional journal American Antiquity is published by the Society for American Archaeology, the largest organization of professional archaeologists of the Americas in the world. The journal is considered to be the flagship journal of American archaeology.American Antiquity is a quarterly...
, Volume 66:1 (2001), 79-102. - (with H. Wolcott Toll) 'Deciphering the Organization of Production in Chaco Canyon', American Antiquity, Volume 66:1 (2001), 5-13.
- 'Sacred Earthen Architecture in the Northern Southwest: The Bluff Great House Berm', American Antiquity 67:4 (2002)
- 'Exploring Archaeological Cultures in the Northern Southwest: What were Chaco and Mesa Verde?', Kiva 70:3 (2005), 227-254.
- (with Phil Geib) 'Earthen Architecture at a Chacoan Great House', Journal of Field Archaeology', 32 (2007), 1-14
- (with Andrew Duff) 'History and Process in Village Formation: Context and Contrasts from the Northern Southwest', American Antiquity, 73:1 (2008).
Selected Book Chapters
- (with Joseph Peter Jalbert) 2000 Chacoan and Local Influences in Three Great House Communities in the Northern San Juan Region. In Great House Communities across the Chacoan Landscape, edited by John Kantner and Nancy Mahoney, pp. 79–90. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
- 'A Consideration of Abandonment from Beyond Middle America'. In The Archaeology of Settlement Abandonment in Middle America, edited by Takeshi Inomata and Ronald Webb, pp 203–210. University of Utah Press, 2003.
- 'Captives in Prehistory: Agents of Social Change'. In Invisible Citizens: Captives and their Consequences. ed. Catherine Cameron, University of Utah Press, 2008.
- 'Comparing Great House Architecture: Perspectives from the Bluff Great House'. In Salmon Ruins: Chacoan Outlier and Thirteenth-Century Pueblo in the Middle San Juan Region, edited by Paul Reed, pp. 251–272. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake, 2008.