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Welcome! I am an anthropological archaeologist and archaeobotanist with interests in food production systems, historical ecology, niche construction, social change, archaeological pedagogy, and public archaeology. I am an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

My research methods focus on archaeobotany (macroremains, phytoliths, and starch), but engage with a broad variety of archaeological materials as well as ethnoarchaeology. Recently, I have been working on projects in Micronesia, Arkansas, and elsewhere, while continuing to use archaeobotanical analysis to study ancient plant cultivation systems. Take a look around, and feel free to send me an email at mlevin (at) ualr (dot) edu to get in touch!

Teaching

Upon reflection, I have been a teacher even longer than I have been an archaeologist. I got my start in high school and college volunteering as a teaching assistant for a local science center, and my first job out of college was as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) program,… Continue reading Teaching

Research

I am an anthropological archaeologist interested in questions about how humans interact with the environments of which we are a part, especially the ways that we procure and produce food. Methodologically, I am trained as an archaeobotanist — that is, I specialize in the study of plants from archaeological sites, especially macroremains and phytoliths. However,… Continue reading Research

Outreach

Archaeology is not just an esoteric field of study for academic curiosity. While I do think that learning about humanity’s past as seen through the material culture we leave behind has intrinsic value, archaeology speaks to many of the important social, political, and environmental issues of today. This is one of the reasons why so… Continue reading Outreach