Dr. David Maxwell

Assistant Professor

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Biography

David Maxwell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University. His primary research field is analytical expertise in faunal analysis, particularly vertebrates. He has identified, analyzed, and interpreted tens of thousands of bones from various sites in western North America, especially in California, British Columbia, Arizona, and New Mexico. Among his notable academic training, he was a trained Mayanist at the University of Arizona, specializing in the interaction between material culture and political history, with a focus on changes in votive caches and their associations with shifts in the political environment. His research also delves into the ritual use of marine toxins by the Maya, and he has studied the population dynamics of Plains bison kill sites, collaborating on forthcoming publications that investigate the age structures of these kill sites and how they compare to the living herds. He has extensive experience researching coastal island hunter-gatherers in southern California and has published on various topics, including subsistence and prehistoric ritual behavior, with specific emphasis on San Nicolas Island and sites within the Los Angeles area.

Research Interests

Courses

ARCH 101 OL01 Reconstructing Human Past ARCH 340 D100 Zooarchaeology ARCH 892 G200 Directed Readings ARCH 226 OL01 Shamans, Sacrifice Psychedelics

Requirements for Simon Fraser University

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:93
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy or related field
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Specialization Notes

Department of Philosophy