Name:

Dr. Kari Schleher

Title:

Curator of Archaeology and Assistant Professor

Department:

Maxwell Museum of Anthropology and the Department of Anthropology

Describe your research in about 200 words.

My research interests include the archaeology of the southwest United States and especially the history of Ancestral Pueblo communities in New Mexico and Colorado. My major focus is on studies of material culture, especially pottery, and what these artifacts can teach us about what life was like the past. I’m especially interested in using scientific studies of materials and methods used to make pottery to better understand choices made by potters in the past. In my joint role as Curator of Archaeology at the Maxwell Museum and Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, I look forward to working with the many amazing archaeological collections at the museum to better understand New Mexico’s history and to continue developing relationships with the local UNM and broader New Mexico communities.

What’s the most interesting thing you have learned from a student?

I’ve worked with students across the US from a wide range of diverse communities and backgrounds. I’ve learned so much from working with them, especially how significantly their past experiences impact how they relate to the subjects we are discussing.