(BS Iowa State 1976; Archaeology, Midwest, Plains)

Mike’s interest in archaeology emerged during schoolwork at Ames High School, where he first learned about the ancient civilizations of the Near East, Mediterranean, and Mesoamerica. His first archaeological fieldwork was in 1972 at a Central Plains tradition earthlodge site in northeastern Kansas. After completing undergraduate studies at Iowa State, Mike joined the OSA staff in 1980 as a project archaeologist. His research interests include Central Plains tradition settlement patterns, Woodland ceramics and settlement patterns, and Midwestern geoarchaeology. Mike’s publications include "Late Woodland Ceramics in Southeastern Iowa: A Perspective form the Lower Skunk Valley" (Journal of the Iowa Archeological Society 1987), and "Middle Woodland Field Camps in the Cedar Valley" (Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science Vol. 98, No. 3, 1991). An article entitled "An Archaeological Survey of the Lower Pony Creek Valley: Implications for Glenwood Locality Settlement Pattern" has recently been accepted for publication by Central Plains Archaeology. Mike has also been actively maintaining, developing, and expanding the OSA Comparative Chert Collection. A "chert home page" will soon appear in the OSA web site that will include a map of Iowa chert sample exposures and an edited version of the catalogue of Iowa chert samples in the OSA collection.

You can e-mail Michael at:

Michael-Perry@uiowa.edu

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