Donald O. Henry

Don Henry

Professor of Anthropology Harwell Hall 2nd Floor
(918) 631-2889
donald-henry@utulsa.edu

I am an archaeologist interested in prehistoric human ecology. That is, the influence of the environment on the composition of prehistoric cultures and how environmental change affects the tempo and trajectory of cultural evolution. Methodologically, I focus on the analysis of stone tools and paleoenvironmental evidence.

My geographic emphasis is the Near East with the Southern Plains of North America as a secondary area of interest. My most recent research interests include the excavation of a 60,000 year old rockshelter occupation, likely inhabited by Neanderthals, and the excavation of a 9,500 year old Early Neolithic settlement, both situated in southern Jordan.

Education and Degrees Earned

  • PhD Anthropology, Southern Methodist University
  • MA Anthropology, Southern Methodist University
  • BA Anthropology, Southern Methodist University

Previous Teaching Experience

  • The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
  • The University of Texas at Arlington

Professional Affiliations

  • Society for American Archaeology
  • Society for Archaeological Sciences
  • Paleoanthropology Society

Courses Taught at TU

  • Cultures Before History: Archaeology (ANTH 2053)
  • Geoarchaeology (ANTH 4223)
  • Seminar in the Design and Administration of Archaeological Research (ANTH 7113)
  • Analysis of Lithic Artifacts (ANTH 7213)

Awards & Recognition

  • 1972/73 National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant, "Examination of Artifactual Variability in the Natufian of Palestine." (A.E. Marks, Advisor) $3,250.
  • 1974-75 National Science Foundation Research Grant, "Prehistoric Research at Hayonim Terrace, Israel." $12,295.
  • 1975-76 National Science Foundation Research Grant, "Prehistoric Research at Hayonim Terrace: A Continuation Request." $24,723.
  • 1979/81 National Science Foundation Research Grant, "An Investigation of Prehistoric Adaptive Strategies in Southern Jordan." $66,352
  • 1980 National Science Foundation Supplemental, "Prehistoric Adaptive Strategies in Southern Jordan." $12,589.
  • 1983 National Endowment of Humanities ACOR Research Fellowship, "Internal Diversity and Regional Comparisons of the Jordanian Paleolithic." $30,000.
  • 1988 National Geographic Society, "Excavation of Tor Hamar, southern Jordan." $9,000.
  • 2004/07 National Science Foundation, “Investigation of Adaptation to the Arid Zone in the Early Neolithic”. $84,051.
  • 1998/01 National Science Foundation, “Investigation of Early Neolithic Adaptive Strategies in Southern Jordan.” $150,426.
  • 1997/98 National Geographic Society, "Prehistoric Survey of the Wadi Araba, Southern Jordan" $17,600.

Publications

  • Cultural and geologic influences on prehistoric site distributions in the Wadi Arabah
    2006 In Crossing the Rift: Resources, Routes, Settlement Patterns, and Interaction in the Wadi Arabah. P. Bienkowski and K. Galor (eds.). Levant Supplement Series 3, Eisenbrauns Publishing.
  • Herding and agricultural activities at the Early Neolithic site of Ayn Abu Nukhayla (Wadi Rum, Jordan)): The results of phytolith and spherulite analyses.
    2004 (with R.M. Albert) Paléorient 30/2:81-92.
  • Human Behavioral Organization in the Middle Paleolithic, Were Neanderthals Different?
    2004 (with Hietala, H., Rosen, A., Demidenko, Y.E., Usik, V.I., and Armagan, T.) American Anthropologist 106(1):17-31.
  • Neanderthals in the Levant: Behavioral Organization and the Beginnings of Human Modernity
    2003 Continuum Press, London.
  • Domestic activities and spatial distributions at Ayn Abu Nukhayla (Wadi Rum, southern Jordan): Phytoliths and Spherulite studies
    2007 (with R.-M. Albert, M. Portillo). Quaternary International.
  • Time - space patterns observed in Pre-pottery Neolithic B point attributes from Ayn Abu Nukhayla
    2007 (with April Nowell). Journal of Eurasian Prehistory.
  • Ayn Abu Nukhayla: Early Neolithic adaptation to the arid zone
    2005 Journal of the Israel Prehistoric Society 35: 353-370.
  • Searching for Neanderthals and finding ourselves
    2007 In Crossing Jordan. T. Levy et al. (eds). Equinox Publishing Company, London.