• Office: WRI A-114
• Phone: 702 895 2534
• Fax: 702 895 4823
• Email (karen.harry@unlv.edu)
• Ph. D. : University of Arizona, 1997
• Curriculum Vitae
• Southwestern Archaeology & Ceramics Lab

Interests: Southwestern archaeology, ceramics, chemical compositional analysis, experimental archaeology, prehistoric trade and exchange, organization of craft production.

For much of the 20th century, it was assumed that formative period Southwestern households were economically self-sufficient and that members of each household produced all the items they needed to function on a daily basis. This viewpoint remained largely unchallenged until the last quarter-century, when improvements in chemical and mineralogical sourcing techniques ushered in a new era of ceramic production and exchange studies. As a result of these studies, we now know that part-time craft specializations were the norm, rather than the exception, during most times and places in the prehistoric Southwest. This recognition has altered our perceptions of the prehistoric Southwestern landscape. Such systems of specialized production and trade would have impacted labor allocations, gender relations, and community and inter-regional social ties. As we continue to make strides in our ability to identify the archaeological locations of craft specialization and trade, we are increasingly able to explore these issues.