John L. Seidel
Director, Center for Environment & Society
Lammot DuPont Copeland Associate Professor of Anthropology and Environmental Studies
E-mail: jseidel2@washcoll.edu
Phone: (800) 422-1782, ext. 7756
Office: Custom House, 101 S. Water Street
Archaeology Lab: Custom House, 410-810-7164
Education
- B.A., Drew University, 1976.
- M.A. Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, 1980.
- M.A. American Civilization, University of Pennsylvania, 1981.
- Ph.D. Historical Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania, 1987.
Office Hours
Hours change each semester, but walk-ins are encouraged.
Courses Taught
- Introduction to Environmental Archaeology
- Cultures and Environments of the Chesapeake
- Doing Archaeology (Method & Theory)
- Maritime Archaeology
- Reconstructing Past Environments
- Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Maryland
- Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology
- Ancient Myths & World Mysteries
- Quantitative Methods in Archaeology
- Summer Field School in Archaeology
- Summer Field Study in Bermuda (with Prof. Donald Munson)
- Chesapeake Semester:
- Social Science of an Estuary
- Integrated Ecosystems Management
Areas of Interest
- Human-environmental interactions
- Environmental archaeology
- Maritime archaeology
- Historic preservation , natural and cultural resource management
- Remote sensing technologies
- GIS & computer applications in resource management
- Benthic habitat and coastal zone assessment
- Long-term climate change
Current Research Projects
- Marine archaeology and natural resource surveys of the Chester River and other tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
- Predictive modeling for environmental change and archaeological sites on Maryland's Upper Eastern Shore
- Climate change and local and regional climate protection planning
- Community visioning and planning through geospatial technologies
- Community sustainability
Awards
- Lilly Teaching Fellow (Lilly Endowment), University of Maryland College Park
- Teaching Excellence Award, University of Maryland College Park
- Award for Outstanding Service to Returning Students, University of Maryland
- Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award, University of Maryland system
- Service Award, Maritime Archaeological & Historical Society
- Achievement Award, Archaeological Society of New Jersey
Previous Positions
- Director, Pluckemin Archaeological Project
- Archaeologist, Quirigua Project (Guatemala), University of Pennsylvania
- Lecturer, Instructor, Department of Classics & Archaeology, Douglass College, Rutgers
- Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
- Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Maryland College Park
- Vice President, Nautical Archaeology, R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates
- Field projects and work in Israel, Iran, Guatemala, Peru and Eastern North America
- Lived in Egypt, Pakistan, Lebanon, and the U.S.
Favorite Activities
SCUBA diving, boating, travel, music, reading.
Travel Destinations
Recent trips: Peru, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Where do I want to go next? The Galapagos, Antarctica, Alaska, any of the Pacific Islands, back to the Mediterranean, and so on, and so on, and so on...
Some Recommended Internet sites
- http://archnet.asu.edu/
One of the best all-around sites on archaeology - http://skepdic.com/
The Skeptic's Dictionary - things aren't always what they seem, or what others tell you - here's a site that brings a rational perspective to many so-called "mysteries." - http://talkorigins.org/
Great site on evolution, with frequently asked questions and responses to assaults on scientific approaches to studying our biological past. - http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's site. - http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/archaeology/
A BBC page on archaeology, with links to a variety of subjects: human remains, virtual sites, marine archaeology, the history of archaeology, and DNA research, among others. - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/
NOVA's listing of web sites associated with their programs-check the listings under "Ancient Worlds" for archaeological materials. Check "Lost King of the Maya," "Mysteries of the Nile," and "Vessel of Doom." More great stuff on “Evolution”, “Nature”, and “Planet Earth.” - http://mayaruins.com/
Wonderful photos of Maya sites. - http://www.ballgame.org/main.asp?section=5
Play the Mesoamerican Ball Game—but don't lose! - http://ces.washcoll.edu/ AND http://chesapeake-semester.washcoll.edu/
Wonder why I like these?!