Dr. Jennifer Jones

Professional Title
Associate Department Head & Associate Professor of Anthropology

Education

Ph.D., Anthropology, Arizona State University (1999)
B.A., Anthropology, SUNY Binghamton, New York (1988)

Professional Statement

Dr. Jones' research focuses on the development of urbanism, particularly the changes in economic and political organization that accompanied the shift from village to urban living. She has participated in archaeological projects in Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, and the United States (New Mexico, New York, Arizona, and Illinois). Her current research investigates the organization of craft production and land use at the Early Bronze Age city of al-Lajjun, Jordan, which was occupied 5000 years ago. 

Areas of Focus

  • Archaeology
  • Middle East
  • Life in Ancient Cities
  • Population Aggregation
  • The Social Organization of Economic Production
  • Ancient Uses of the Landscape

Courses Taught

Dr. Jones teaches introductory courses in three of the subfields of anthropology – biological, cultural, and archaeology. At the more advanced levels, she teaches a variety of archaeology and cultural anthropology courses:

  • Career Development
  • Archaeology of the Old World
  • North American Archaeology
  • Archaeology of Cities
  • Anthropology of the Middle East
  • Women in Cross Cultural Perspective
  • Archaeological Method and Theory
  • Anthropology of Landscapes

Personal Statement

I grew up in a small town in the rolling hills of western New York. I enjoy reading, hiking, kayaking, and trying new activities and new foods. I have lived in and traveled throughout Arizona and New Mexico, where I developed a love of cacti, spicy cooking, and Hatch chilies. Among my favorite places are deserts in high summer and northern Minnesota in deep winter.