I base my research on the study of animal remains from archaeological sites, for which purpose I manage the Zooarchaeology Laboratory. The lab specializes in the identification of vertebrate remains and contains a comparative skeletal collection of 4,200 vertebrate and invertebrate specimens from throughout the southeastern United States and adjacent waters, as well as from the Caribbean. It has been used since 1977 in support of archaeological research, service, and training, during which time over 200 archaeological faunal assemblages from the southeastern United States, the Caribbean basin, Peru, and Ecuador have been studied.
Research is conducted within a service framework.
Both historic and prehistoric materials are studied with most analysis conducted within the context of examining adaptations to coastal and aquatic settings. Laboratory personnel are particularly active in research involving coastal adaptations of Spanish, plantation, and Native American populations. Anthropology and biology are combined in studies of allometric relationships, incremental growth in deer, fishes, and mollusks, DNA analysis of Georgia deer, isotopic analysis of mollusk valves and otoliths, feeding behavior of a number of rodent and carnivore species, and change in deer size through time currently being conducted using the comparative collection. Students are encouraged to participate in these service activities, with contract funds used to support them. Several of these projects have been analyzed by students as part of their dissertation or thesis research.