Summary
Christopher Mayo is a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno, specializing in zooarchaeology and ichthyoarchaeology. His research investigates the intersections of archaeological science, fisheries ecology and management, and sociopolitical complexity, with a regional emphasis on California and broader comparative interests in the Caribbean. Drawing on Human Behavioral Ecology (HBE) and historical ecology frameworks, Christopher examines long-term human-animal interactions in aquatic environments to inform contemporary debates on sustainability, conservation, and subsistence practices—particularly within the Channel Islands region.
His current work centers on fish and marine mammal remains from coastal and interior sites on Santa Rosa Island, aiming to reconstruct past fishing and hunting practices. He examines seasonal variability, habitat use, and marine resource intensification over time. By integrating zooarchaeological analysis with HBE and historical ecology approaches, his research sheds light on the sociopolitical and environmental dimensions of changing subsistence strategies in the Channel Islands, contributing to broader understandings of resilience, mobility, and how marine resources were managed and exploited in ancient island communities.
Research interests
- Zooarchaeology
- Ichthyoarchaeology
- Human Behavioral Ecology (HBE)
- Island and coastal archaeology
- Fisheries ecology and resource management
Education
- M.A., Anthropology, California State University, Northridge, 2023
- B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, 2019
- A.A., Anthropology, Moorpark College, 2017