Dr. Thomas E. Emerson
Thomas Emerson is a specialist in North American Eastern Woodlands archaeology, especially of the Upper Mississippi River Valley region. His research has generally centered on the archaeology, religious ideology, and political economy of late prehistoric Mississippian cultures. However, his interests are diverse and his work has included mortuary analyses, subsistence studies, archaeological ethnicity, archaeometric sourcing of raw materials, faunal analysis, Great Lakes maritime research, archaeological law and compliance, heritage and cultural resource management. He has conducted fieldwork throughout the Great Lakes region, the Plains, and Norway.
Emerson is dedicated to the publication of archeological materials and in this role has founded nine publication series. He holds numerous professional memberships and committee roles, and was also the primary author of Illinois’ major archaeological laws, as well as, portions of the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation.
