Richard K. Dunn
- Charles A. Dana Professor
About
Dr. Dunn is an expert in sedimentology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, and geoarchaeology. He conducts research in two areas: geoarchaeology and Vermont's glacial history. Dr. Dunn works on interdisciplinary and international projects using geological data and principles to address archaeological questions. His research focuses on reconstructing past landscapes and sedimentary systems to put human activity into its proper paleo-environmental setting.
Dr. Dunn has conducted research in several countries including Greece, Israel, Portugal, Belize, Cyprus, and Easter Island. He has also done geological mapping for the State of Vermont to identify natural resources and establish details of the glacial history and geology, including an effort at determining the mechanisms of deposition active at the retreating margin of the ice sheet.
Dr. Dunn has supervised dozens of undergraduate research students and has served in leadership positions in the Geoarchaeology Division of the Geological Society of America, the Vermont Geological Society, and Sigma Xi, the International Society for Scientific Research.
Education
Ph.D. Geology, University of Delaware
M.S. Geology, Wichita State University
B.S. Geology, University of Minnesota, Duluth
B.A. Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Courses Taught
GL 156 Introduction to Earth Evolution
GL 257 Sedimentology
GL 199 Unearthing Ancient Civilizations
Publications
Wachsmann, S., Burke, A.A., Dunn, R.K. and Avnaim-Katav, S., 2023, ‘He Went Down to Joppa and Found a Ship Going to Tarshish’ (Jonah 1:3): Landscape Reconstruction at Jaffa and a Potential Early Harbour: International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, DOI: 10.1080/10572414.2022.2148819.
Dunn, R.K. and Larsen, F.D., 2021, Surficial geologic map of the Roxbury 7 1/2 Minute Quadrangle, Vernont: Vermont Geological Survey Open File Report VG2021-3, Plate 1.
Sherwood, S.C., Van Tilburg, J., Barrier, C.R., Horrocks, M., Dunn, R.K. and Ramirez-Aliaga, J.M., 2019, New excavations in Easter Island's statue quarry: soil fertility, site formation and chronology: Journal of Archaeological Science, v. 111, 104994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2019.104994.