Site Index 

Areas of Interest

Northeastern North America, Prehistoric Native American Archaeology

Dr. Anthony has conducted archaeological excavations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia as a cultural resource management consultant, working on archaeological investigations associated with the Federally funded construction projects. He and his wife, Dorcas Brown, have directed Hartwick field excavations on prehistoric camp sites dated from 2500 BC to AD 1600 at the Pine Lake environmental campus. 

Dr. Anthony also serves as Curator of the Native American collection in the Museums at Hartwick. The Native American collection contains more than 10,000 artifacts from the Upper Susquehanna Valley, the American Southwest, Mexico, Peru, and the Amazon. Students work and conduct research with the collections.

Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakstan Steppe Archaeology

Photo: Making Molds of Horse Teeth at SUNY Cobleskill

Dr. Anthony and Dorcas Brown have been visiting the steppe regions of the former USSR since 1989, investigating the origins of horseback riding, wheeled vehicles, chariots, and the Indo-European languages (of which English is one). Their research has been supported by grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. 

Hartwick students have done much of the lab work associated with their research, including work on the scanning electron microscope facilities at Hartwick and at Cornell (a two-hour drive from Hartwick), where they examined horse teeth to identify bit wear — microscopic scratches caused by ancient bits. Anthony and Brown invented this technique to identify the bones of horses that were used for riding or driving, and they discovered bit wear on the teeth of a horse in Ukraine dated to 4000 BC — the earliest horse known to have been ridden anywhere in the world. 

Anthony and Brown are currently conducting excavations in the steppes near Samara, Russia, with the support of the National Science Foundation. See the online article on the Samara Valley Project. Also see the online article Excavations at Krasnaya Samarka.

The Institute for Ancient Equestrian Studies (IAES)

Dr. Anthony and Dorcas Brown started the Institute in 1995 to encourage research and education on the role of the horse in ancient history and prehistory. The IAES is supported by grants and private donations. In the summer of 1995 the IAES sponsored an international conference in Kazakstan and an archaeological excavation in the steppes of Russia.

Dr. Anthony can be reached via e-mail:
anthonyd@hartwick.edu