• Keith Prufer is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at The University of New Mexico. He is also the Director of the UNM Environmental Archeology Laboratory.

  • His work focuses on paleoecology, early human adaptations, and the archeology of Mesoamerica. He investigates ancient human-environment interactions, specializing in the study of rock shelters, climate change, and early agricultural societies.

  • Prufer has authored and co-authored numerous articles in leading journals, including Science Advances and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). His research has contributed significantly to the understanding of early human settlements in the tropics.

  • He has received multiple research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Geographic Society for his archaeological fieldwork in Belize and Central America.

  • In addition to his academic research, Prufer leads interdisciplinary projects that integrate archeology, paleo-environmental science, and human evolution studies.

  • Prufer received his doctorate in Anthropology from Southern Illinois University and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology from the University of Illinois.

Areas of Interest
Paleoecology, early human adaptations, environmental archeology, Mesoamerican archeology, and climate change in ancient societies.

Contact

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