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Colleen M. Beck

Research Professor

Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences

Email: Colleen.Beck@dri.edu

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Colleen Beck

Education

Ph.D. 1979 University of California at Berkeley Anthropology
M.A. 1974 University of California at Berkeley Anthropology
B.A. 1973 University of California at Berkeley Anthropology

Professional Interests

Dr. Beck has broad experience in anthropological and archaeological research in North and South America, and for the past two decades she has been involved in the management of cultural resources research projects in the Western United States. Dr. Beck is the DRI manager for the Nevada Test Site Cultural Resources Program, a diverse effort that includes prehistoric and historic archaeology, archaeology of Cold War activities, historic building evaluations and documentation, and consultations with Native Americans. She oversees the curation of artifact collections and records affiliated with the Nevada Test Site, and has worked on management documents, such as Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, and Cultural Resources Plans. Dr. Beck's research interests include archaeological theory and methodology, cultural adaptations in arid lands, rock art, shamanism, and the archaeology of the recent past. She also is involved in assisting Native Americans with historic preservation and repatriation consultations.

Dr. Beck is a past-President of the Nevada Archaeological Society, and has served on the City of Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission and the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council. She is active in historic preservation and archaeological associations, both local and national, and has an associate graduate faculty position with the Anthropology and Ethnic Studies Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Research Areas

  • Anthropology and Archaeology Research
  • Great Basin and Mojave Desert Archaeology
  • Rock Art Analysis and Interpretation
  • Early 1900s Land Use Patterns in Southern Nevada
  • Archaeology of 20th Century Protest Camps
  • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Consultation Models

Selected Publications

Schofield, J., W. Johnson, and C.M. Beck (Eds.), 2002:
Materiel Culture: The Archaeology of Twentieth Century Conflict. Routledge Press, London.
Beck, C., 2002:
The Archaeology of Scientific Experiments at a Nuclear Testing Ground. In: J. Schofield, W. Johnson, and C. Beck (Eds.), Materiel Culture: The Archaeology of Twentieth Century Conflict, Routledge Press, London.
Beck, C.M., in 2002:
Applying Archaeological Theory to Nuclear Testing Sites. Eureka! Archaeology of Innovation and Science, Proceedings of the 29th Annual Chacmool Conference, University of Calgary.
Beck, C., 2001:
Corn Creek Dunes: A Historical Retrospective. Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology Publications in Archaeology, No. 1, pp. 225-234.
Beck, C., M. Zedeno, and R. Furlow, 2000:
Time, Trust, and the Measure of Success: The Nevada Test Site Cultural Resources Program. In: K. Dongoshe, M. Aldenherfer and K. Doehne (Eds.), Working Together: Native Americans and Archaeologists, pp. 165-172. Society for American Archaeology, Washington, D.C.
Beck, C.M., 1999:
Ethnography and Archaeology in the Great Basin, Models for the Millennium. In: Charlotte Beck (Ed.), Great Basin Anthropology Today, pp. 13-28. University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City.
Beck, C., W. Johnson, and R. Furlow, 1998:
The Nevada Test Site's Cold War Historic Properties Program. In From the Cold, Vol 1 (6) 1-3.
Beck, C.M., 1998:
Arid North Coast of Peru: Survival Strategies of Ancient Civilisations. Proceedings of the International Conference on Desert Technology IV, Journal of Arid Land Studies, Vol 7:19-23. Japan.
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