Jason Theuer

PhD    Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, 2013
MA     Anthropology, Southern Methodist University

Jason Theuer's work focuses on the American Southwest. His dissertation research focused on the dynamics of migration and identity in the 14th century Pueblo world through geochemical analysis of glaze-painted pottery. He served as head Archaeologist for Petrified Forest National Park from 2007-2011 when he left the position to finish his dissertation. His interest in preservation started while working as a carpenter restoring 18th century New England Whaling Era homes, which translated into positions with the National Park Service preserving both historic buildings and archaeological ruins. His research interests include migration, village formation, identity, and traditional knowledge. His time at Petrified Forest NP and collaborations with traditional elders from the communities of Hopi and Zuni are leading him to look for ways to incorporate traditional knowledge into reconstructing past settlement patterns and engaging Native American youths and traditional elders in public land management practices.

Title of Dissertation: "Glaze Painted Pottery and Communities of Practice: Examining Migration and Identity through Compositional Analyses of Glaze Paints at Hummingbird Pueblo, New Mexico."

Entered program in 2002

Region of Study:

Southwest; Northeast; North America

Honors and Awards:

2006: Project Lead, "A systematic analysis of the applicability of X-Ray Diffraction for characterizing clay sources and pottery pastes." Institute for the Study of Earth and Man Graduate Research Grant (Southern Methodist University). $1,500

2005: Project Lead, "Compositional Analysis of Ancestral Pueblo Ceramics from Hummingbird Pueblo." University Research Council Grant (Southern Methodist University). $5,000

2004: Project Lead, "Pathways to Understanding Survey of the Acoma-Zuni Trail." Western National Parks Association Grant. $7,500

2004: Project Lead, "Survey of the Acoma-Zuni Trail." William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies Graduate Research Grant (Southern Methodist University). $500

Publications:

In Press Review: Potters and Communities of Practice: Glaze Paint and Polychrome Pottery in the American Southwest, AD 1250-1700. Linda Cordell and Judith Habicht-Mauche (eds). The University of Arizona Press, 2012. In, Journal of Anthropological Research.

2013 The Archaeological Context of NAGPRA Materials in Museum Collections from Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. In, Cultural Affiliation Study for NAGPRA Materials from Petrified Forest National Park, edited by T.J. Ferguson. Report submitted to Petrified Forest National Park, Petrified Forest, AZ.

2012 (senior author with P.F. Reed) Overview and Assessment of Archaeological Resources for Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Report prepared for Petrified Forest National Park, Petrified Forest, AZ.

2011 (with Allen, C.D., Cutrell, A.K. and N. V. Cerveny) Advances in Rock Art Field Assessment. La Pintura 37(1): 4-6.