{"id":2741,"date":"2021-02-10T21:12:37","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T21:12:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/anthropology\/?page_id=2741"},"modified":"2024-08-15T22:38:30","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T22:38:30","slug":"faculty-research-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/faculty-research-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Faculty Research Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Fall 2024 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Luke Auld-Thomas<\/h1>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3312 size-portrait-image-sm\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Luke-150x225.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Remote sensing of ancient Maya urbanism and its long-term environmental legacy<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3>Luke Auld-Thomas is joining NAU Anthropology this fall as part of a cluster of experts in Remote Sensing<\/h3>\n<p>Remote sensing technologies are transforming archaeology with a torrent of new data, allowing researchers to revisit some of the discipline\u2019s most elemental and stubborn research problems while also posing a host of new and exciting questions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3313 size-landscape-image-lg\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Luke-Remote--800x600.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Luke-Remote--800x600.png 800w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Luke-Remote--464x348.png 464w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Luke-Remote--232x174.png 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Nowhere have these changes been more powerfully felt than in the Maya Lowlands of northern Central America, where airborne laser scanning (a.k.a. lidar) has revealed a landscape utterly transformed by human activity and subsequently blanketed\u2014and thus preserved\u2014by dense forest for a millennium. Luke Auld-Thomas&#8217; ground-breaking work introduces recent and ongoing research that uses remote sensing to reconstruct the magnitude of ancient populations and the extent of pre-Columbian urbanization across the Maya Lowlands. He also looks at\u00a0 how the same data now being used to map ancient settlement systems are poised to shed new light on the ecology of post-urban landscapes in Mesoamerica and beyond.<\/p>\n<p>Luke Auld-Thomas&#8217; work has been featured in lots of news stories and academic paper. A few are linked below.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/maya-monument-discovery_n_55b62db6e4b0074ba5a5006b\">Researchers Discover Incredible Mayan Monument | Huff Post<\/a><\/h4>\n<h4 id=\"screen-reader-main-title\" class=\"Head u-font-serif u-h2 u-margin-s-ver\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0278416521000829\"><span class=\"title-text\">Taking the high ground: A model for lowland Maya settlement patterns | With Dr. Marcelo Canuto in The Journal of Anthropological Archaeology<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<!-- shortcode-right-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-right-column\" >\n    <div class=\"shortcode-right-column__container\">\n<!-- shortcode-image-caption -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-caption shortcode-image-caption--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/fall-2023-faculty-spotlight-dr-gavin-healey-and-indigenous-aerosol-muralism\/\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__container\">\n                <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__caption\">\n            <span>\n\nFall 2023 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Gavin Healey, Indigenous Aerosol Muralism\n\n<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-tall-banner-image wp-image-3216\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Gavin-copy-393x384.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot of Gavin.\" width=\"393\" height=\"384\">\n    <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<!-- shortcode-image-caption -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-caption shortcode-image-caption--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/fall-2022-spotlight-dr-kayeleigh-sharp\/\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__container\">\n                <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__caption\">\n            <span>\n\nFall 2022 Faculty Spotlight: \n\n<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2990 size-landscape-image\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Picture2-437x348.png\" alt=\"Dr. Sharp in the field\" width=\"437\" height=\"348\">\n    <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<!-- shortcode-image-caption -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-caption shortcode-image-caption--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/celebrating-the-life-and-work-of-dr-leila-monaghan\/\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__container\">\n                <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__caption\">\n            <span>\n\nCelebrating the Life and Work of Dr. Leila Monaghan\n\n<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2960 size-landscape-image\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Leila-Monaghan-1-1-464x348.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Leila-Monaghan-1-1-464x348.jpg 464w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Leila-Monaghan-1-1-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Leila-Monaghan-1-1-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/>\n    <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<!-- shortcode-image-caption -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-caption shortcode-image-caption--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/dr-leszek-pawlowicz-and-dr-chris-downum-breakthrough-in-archaeological-applications-of-machine-learning\/\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__container\">\n                <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__caption\">\n            <span>\n\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\n&nbsp;\nSummer 2022 Spotlight: Dr. Leszek Pawlowicz and Dr. Chris Downum, Breakthrough in Archaeological Applications of Machine Learning\n\n<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-landscape-image wp-image-2903 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/a-downum-pawlowicz-a-464x348.jpg\" alt=\"Drs. Downum and Pawlowicz\" width=\"464\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/a-downum-pawlowicz-a-464x348.jpg 464w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/a-downum-pawlowicz-a-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/a-downum-pawlowicz-a-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/>\n    <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<h4><!-- shortcode-image-caption -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-caption shortcode-image-caption--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/lisa-hardy-community-engaged-medical-anthropology\/\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__container\">\n                <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__caption\">\n            <span>\n\nSpring 2022 Spotlight: Dr. Lisa Hardy, Community-Engaged Medical Anthropology\n\n<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-landscape-image wp-image-2881\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Lisa-Hardy-2-464x348.jpg\" alt=\"Lisa Hardy Portrait\" width=\"464\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Lisa-Hardy-2-464x348.jpg 464w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Lisa-Hardy-2-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/Lisa-Hardy-2-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/>\n    <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<!-- shortcode-image-caption -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-caption shortcode-image-caption--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/human-biology-and-health\/\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__container\">\n                <span class=\"shortcode-image-caption__caption\">\n            <span>\n\nWinter 2022 Spotlight: Dr. Melissa Libert, Human Biology and Health\n\n<\/span>\n        <\/span>\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-landscape-image wp-image-2733\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/melissa-2-464x348.jpg\" alt=\"Melissa in the field\" width=\"464\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/melissa-2-464x348.jpg 464w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/melissa-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/melissa-2-232x174.jpg 232w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/melissa-2-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/melissa-2-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/melissa-2.jpg 708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/>\n    <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<!-- shortcode-image-callout -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-callout shortcode-image-callout--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/sociocultural\/\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-callout__outer-container\">\n        <span class=\"shortcode-image-callout__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-landscape-image wp-image-1507\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/2018\/03\/nau-coe-student-staring-out-window-464x348.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"464\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/2018\/03\/nau-coe-student-staring-out-window-464x348.jpg 464w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/2018\/03\/nau-coe-student-staring-out-window-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/>\n                        <span class=\"shortcode-image-callout__header-container\">\n                <span>Sociocultural Anthropology<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<!-- shortcode-image-callout -->\n<span class=\"shortcode-image-callout shortcode-image-callout--right\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/archaeology\">    <span class=\"shortcode-image-callout__outer-container\">\n        <span class=\"shortcode-image-callout__container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-landscape-image wp-image-2128\" src=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/DSC_0148-464x348.jpg\" alt=\"students looking at canyon\" width=\"464\" height=\"348\" srcset=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/DSC_0148-464x348.jpg 464w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/DSC_0148-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/345\/DSC_0148-232x174.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\" \/>\n                        <span class=\"shortcode-image-callout__header-container\">\n                <span>Archaeology<\/span>\n            <\/span>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/span>\n    <\/a><\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fall 2024 Faculty Spotlight: Meet Luke Auld-Thomas Remote sensing of ancient Maya urbanism and its long-term environmental legacy Luke Auld-Thomas is joining NAU Anthropology this fall as part of a cluster of experts in Remote Sensing Remote sensing technologies are transforming archaeology with a torrent of new data, allowing researchers to revisit some of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":541,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2741","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/541"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2741"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3314,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2741\/revisions\/3314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/department-anthropology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}