Photo of Kathryn Reese-Taylor in the forest. She is wearing a backpack and large straw hat and smiling at the camera.

Kathryn Reese-Taylor

Pronouns: she/elle/ella

Positions

Interim Department Head

Faculty of Arts, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology

Professor

Faculty of Arts, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology

Contact information

Email

kreeseta@ucalgary.ca

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-6369

Background

Educational Background

Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Texas, 1996

MA Anthropology, Texas A&M University, 1989

BA High Honours Anthropology, University of Houston, 1982

Biography

Dr. Kathryn Reese-Taylor is an accomplished researcher whose work focuses on ancient Mayan peoples. In 2001, Dr. Reese-Taylor joined the University of Calgary as an Associate Professor in the Anthroplogy and Archeology Department. She teaches Undergraduate and Graduate courses on subjects such as Ancient Peoples, MesoAmerica, Archeological and Anthroplogical theory, and Mayan Social Organisation. In addition to her position with the Univeristy of Calgary, Dr. Reese-Taylor holds the appointments of Research Scholar with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Research Fellow with the Middle American Research Institute at Tulane University. Dr. Reese-Taylor’s current research is conducted out of field-sites in Mexico, where she collaborates closely with locals, government, and fellow researchers.

Research

Areas of Research

Development of Complex Societies, Landscape Archaeology, Land-Use Strategies, Urbanization, Digital Heritage, Remote Sensing

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Human dynamics in a changing world

New earth-space technologies

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
ARKY 615 Topics in Archaeological Theory and Method Winter 2024

Projects

Bajo el Laberinto Archaeological Project (Proyecto Arqueológico Bajo el Laberinto PABEL)

PABEL is an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional project located in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage center. The study area surrounds the Bajo el Laberinto wetlands and is focused on city of Calakmul, one of the largest and most significant cities in the Precontact Americas. Our goal is to provide a better understanding of how an agrarian-based metropolis developed in the environmentally sensitive tropical lowlands, from its foundation in the Preclassic period to its disintegration at the end of the Late Classic era. I am particularly interested in changing population dynamics, landscape modifications, urban commerce, and evolving urban strategies. 

In addition, our project incorporates biological and ecological studies in the Calakmul rainforest. We also work closely with INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia) and CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas) to support best practices for heritage conservation and park management.

Project logo
Research team, Calakmul 2022
Reservoir 1, Calakmul

Awards

  • Transdisciplinary Scholarship Connector Grant, University of Calgary Institute for Transdiscplinary Scholarship. 2024
  • Insight Grant, Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada. 2024
  • Vice-President Research Catalyst Grant, University of Calgary. 2023
  • National Science Foundation Grant, National Science Foundation. 2021

Publications

Google Scholar

ResearchGate

Academia

In the News