Katharine V. Alexander | University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences

Katharine V. Alexander

Anthropology Ph.D. Candidate

Archaeology Lab Director, CRA

Adjunct Instructor, University of Rio Grande

Contact Information

kalexander@uky.edu

Research Interests

Eastern Woodlands
hunter-gatherers
incipient horticulture
environmental archaeology
anthropogenic landscapes
ethnobotany
anthracology
macrobotanical analysis
stable isotope analysis
Paleoethnobotany

Affiliations

Anthropology

EDUCATION

PhD (In Progress), University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)
Dissertation Working Title: Macrobotanical Evidence of Plant Use and Human-Environment Relatonships from Middle and Late Archaic Sites in the Lower Ohio River Valley. Advisor: George Crothers

MA, Anthropology, University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB, Canada)
Thesis: A typological and technological analysis of stone artifacts from the Magubike archaeological site, Iringa Region, southern Tanzania. Supervisor: Pamela Willoughby

BA, Anthropology cum laude, Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)

RESEARCH

I am an archaeologist and paleoethnobotanist with research interests ranging from the cultural role of specific plants to broader human-environment relationships in all time periods and places. For my dissertation research, I am analyzing macrobotanical assemblages from several sites in order to explore patterns of plant use and human-environment interactions among Archaic hunter-gatherers in the Lower Ohio River Valley, and how this relates to the emergence of incipient horticulture and plant domestication in the subsequent Early Woodland period within this region.

Before pursuing my PhD, I obtained a BA in anthropology from Arizona State University and MA in the same from the University of Alberta, where my thesis research focused on Middle and Later Stone Age lithic technology at Magubike Rockshelter in Iringa, Tanzania. Originally from southeastern Ohio, archaeology has taken me around the world before bringing me closer to home again. I've participated in archaeological surveys and/or excavations across the US in 12 states as well as abroad in France, Spain, and Tanzania. This experience includes work in both CRM and academic settings.

REFEREED ARTICLES

2021 Bonzani, R.M., K. Alexander, A. Metz, J. Munizzi, B. Manzano, M. Davidson, G. Farrish, and A. Erhardt. “Using Deer Stable Isotope Data to Test a Niche Construction Hypothesis for an Increase in Prehistoric Human Maize Consumption in the Eastern Woodlands of the United States.” Environmental Archaeology.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

2020         Alexander, K. Paleoethnobotany of the Kentucky Green River Archaic: The View from a Bluff-Top Shell Midden. Paper presented at the Kentucky Heritage Council Archaeology Meeting (Bowling Green, KY).

2019         Crothers, G., J.Carlson, K. Stevens, A. Metz, and K. Alexander. Beyond the Big Bend: Julie Stein’s Geoarchaeological Legacy in the Green River of Kentucky. Paper presented at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archaeology, (Albuquerque, NM).

2018          Alexander, K. Beyond Woman-the-Gatherer: Engendered Narratives of Agricultural Origins. Paper presented at the 2^nd Annual Kentucky Gender and Women’s Studies Conference (Lexington, KY).

2018          Alexander, K. and A.M. Casserly. Toward a Paleopharmacology of the Kentucky Archaic. Paper presented at the 75^th Annual Southeastern Archaeological Conference (Augusta, GA).

2018          Alexander, K., R. Bonzani, and J. Endonino. Analysis of Botanical Remains from Grizzly Newt Rockshelter, Eastern Kentucky. Paper presented at the Kentucky Heritage Council Archaeology Conference (Gilbertville, KY).

2018          Alexander, K. and R. Bonzani. Diachronic Trends in Hard Mast Exploitation and Implications for Incipient Horticulture at Cloudsplitter, Eastern Kentucky, USA. Poster presented at the 3^rd Annual Integrated Microscopy Approaches to Archaeobotany workshop, University of Reading (Reading, England).

2018        Hummel, R., K. Alexander, and G. Crothers. Initial Timing and Spread of Domesticated Eastern Agricultural Complex Plants. Poster presented at the 82^nd Annual Meeting for the Society of American Archaeology (Washington D.C.).

2018          Stevens, K., K. Alexander, and A. Metz. New Approaches to Old Questions: Current Research Objectives for the Green River Valley Shell Midden Archaic, Kentucky, USA. Paper presented at the 82^nd Annual Meeting for the Society of American Archaeology (Washington, D.C.).

2017          Stevens, K., J. Carlson, M.D. Parker, K. Alexander, and A. Metz. Finding a Space/Place for Archaeology in Political Ecology. Workshop presented at the Dimensions of Political Ecology Conference (Lexington, KY).

2010         Alexander, K. Lithic Assemblages from Magubike, Iringa Region, Tanzania. Paper presented at the 18th Annual Richard Frucht Student Conference (Edmonton, AB).

2009        Alexander, K. Middle Stone Age Lithic Assemblages at Magubike, Iringa Region, Tanzania. Paper presented at the East African Association for Paleontology and Paleoanthropology meeting (Arusha, Tanzania). meeting (Arusha, Tanzania).

TECHNICAL REPORTS

2020         Alexander, K. “Chapter 7: Analysis of Macrobotanical Remains.” In National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Testing for Sites 41PP375, 41PP377, 41PP378, 41PP382, 41PP384, 41PP385, 41PP386, 41PP387, and 41PP388 for the Proposed Turkey Peak Reservoir Project by M. Johnson, K. Pelusio, M. Koszarek, K. Alexander, C. Tinsley, and A. Keen.Prepared by HDR, Inc. for the Palo Pinto Count Municipal Water District No. 1, TX.

2019         Alexander, K. Macrobotanical Analysis for Sites 41PP377 and 41PP278 in North-Central Texas. Submitted to HDR, Inc., Dallas, TX.

2019         Alexander, K. Phase I Archaeological Survey of a Portion of the Proposed Town Branch Trail in Northwest Lexington, Fayette County. Report submitted to Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. University of Kentucky Program for Archaeological Research Technical Report No. 878. Lexington.

2019         Schlarb, E.J., K. Alexander, M. J. Stottman, J. Carlson, and A. Whitten. An Archaeological Assessment of the Pine Creek Timber Sale Units, Daniel Boone National Forest, Laurel and Pulaski Counties, Kentucky. Report No. 876. University of Kentucky, Program for Archaeological Research, Lexington.

2018         Alexander, K. Phase I Archaeological Survey for a Section of a Proposed Force Main Sewer Line near Montiello, Wayne County, Kentucky. UK PAR Project Number 18-37, Technical Report No. 873. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

2018         Ahler, S. and K. Alexander. Phase II National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Assessment of 15TR1 Area B in Trigg County, Kentucky. UK PAR Project No. 18-32, Technical Report No.868, University of Kentucky. Lexington, KY.

2018         Manzano, B., K. Alexander, and S. Ahler. Phase I Archaeological Survey for a Proposed Natural Gas Line to the Kentucky Green Harvest/Gresh Harvest Facilities in Lincoln County, Kentucky. UK PAR Project Number 18-36, Technical Report No. 872, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

2018         Schlarb, E.J., M.J. Stottman, L. Tepe, A. Duncan, K. Alexander, A. Whitten, and J.N. Carlson. An Archaeological Assessment of the Redbird Crest Trail, Redbird Ranger district, Daniel Boone National Forest, Clay and Leslie Counties, Kentucky. UK PAR Project No. 18-19, Technical Report No. 870. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

2018         Stottman, M.J. and K. Alexander. Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Lincoln Street Redevleopment Project in Clark County, Kentucky. UK PAR Project No. 18-28, Technical Report No. 864. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

2017         Alexander, K.. Preliminary Report on the Analysis of Macrobotanical Remains from Site 41PP386 in Palo Pinto County, Texas. Submitted to HDR, Inc., Dallas, TX.

2009         Spielmann, K.A., K. Alexander, J. Briggs, M.J. Hoogendyk, C. Steiner Kiggins, M. Kruse, S. McGee, M. Peeples, W. Russell, H. Schaafsma, and C. Strawhacker.. Report of the Spring 2007 Field Season, Legacies on the Landscape, Archaeological and Ecological Research at Agua Fria National Monument and Tonto National Forest. Submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Tonto National Forest, Phoenix, AZ.