Ph.D. – University of Texas at Austin, 1969

Specialty: Archaeological Palynology, Paleoenvironmental Studies, Coprolite Studies, Forensic Palynology, Melissopalynology

Current Research Projects: Most of my research focuses on the study of fossil pollen and other plant remains recovered from archaeological sites on land and from shipwreck and other underwater sites. For much of my career I have studied the contents of ancient human feces (coprolites) and used those data to reconstruct the diets and paleonutrition of ancient human societies. Some of those studies have focused on coprolites from Homo erectus, Neandertals, and early Holocene cultures throughout North and South America. Currently, my students and I are also studying the origin and spread of food use throughout the Americas using data recovered from the analysis of ancient starch remains recovered from archaeological sites. My other research focus is on the use of pollen in forensic applications to aid law enforcement agencies in their pursuit and conviction of criminals and international terrorists. One other research specialty, which I have pioneered over the course of more than 30 years, centers on the pollen analysis of commercial honey produced in countries throughout the world in an effort to verify both the country of origin and the primary nectar sources of honey.