Dr. William Wadsworth

Biography

William Wadsworth is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, where he continues his research in community-driven non-invasive archaeology on the Northwest Coast. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, awarded in 2025, and has previously earned an MA and an honors Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto. Wadsworth has been a SSHRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow under Dr. Andrew Martindale at the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Archaeology Center, specializing in the application of digital and non-invasive technologies to cultural heritage, with a particular focus on collaborative, community-driven archaeological approaches. His research emphasizes methodological refinement in subsurface investigation techniques, such as ground-penetrating radar, and the employment of large-scale digital reconstruction strategies for places and landscapes, including drone-based surveys and LiDAR technology. His work on historical archaeologies, particularly the affected communities from the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, highlights his commitment to addressing the needs of Indigenous Nations and descendant communities. Wadsworth's role at the University of Alberta’s Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology included serving as the technical lead for surveys of the disappeared children of Indian Residential Schools in Alberta and Saskatchewan, further demonstrating his expertise as a consultant for Indigenous Nations, as well as university, government, and industry organizations.

Research Interests