Great Basin Archaeology

Great Basin Archaeology studies the human history and cultures of the Great Basin region in the western United States, covering parts of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and California. It examines ancient peoples’ ways of life through artifacts, fossils, and site analyses, revealing how they adapted to arid environments over thousands of years. This field helps us understand shifts in hunting, gathering, trade, and social organization, providing insights into how early inhabitants coexisted with their land and evolved over time. It combines archaeological methods with regional environmental studies to reconstruct the diverse cultural history of the Great Basin.