Dr. Justin P. Lowry
Associate Professor of Archaeology
Justin Lowry works on the archaeology of trade, exchange, and the development of societies in Mesoamerica and works on immigration issues in modern U.S. communities. His active archaeological work is currently in Clinton County, N.Y., Managua, Nicaragua and Chiapas, Mexico. He teaches a wide range of courses in archaeology, human evolution, and geographic information systems (GIS).
- Education
- Ph.D. — Anthropology, 2013 from State University of New York, Albany
- M.A. — Anthropology, 2007 from State University of New York, Albany
- B.A. — Anthropology, 2005 from University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- B.S. — Geology, 2005 from University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Recent Publications
- 2022 Lowry, Justin. P.; Paling, Jason S. R, Navarro Castillo, M. “Propuesta para el análisis de contextos arqueológicos subacuáticos a partir de su formación deposicional. El caso del proyecto Rancho Ojo de Agua Chiapas, México.” In CLIO – Arqueológica p-ISSN: 0102-6003 vol. 37 no. 2. pps 53-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.51359/2448-2331.2022.257228
- 2022 Terry, R.E., Brown, B.M., Stanton, T.W., Ardren, T., Anaya, T.C., Lowry, J., León, J.F.O., Ruíz, F.P., Camacho, N.M., Magnoni, A. and Munro-Stasiuk, M. “Soil biomarkers of cacao tree cultivation in the sacred cacao groves of the northern Maya lowlands.” Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 41, #103331.
- 2021 Navarro Castillo, Marx, Jason S.R. Paling and Justin P. Lowry. “Proyecto Arqueológico Rancho Ojo de Agua en la Periferia de Centros Clásicos Mayas Informe Final de Campo” Presentado al Consejo de Arqueología Instituto Nacional de Antropología, e Historia. Número 12, Esq. Donceles, Colonia Centro Código Postal 06060 México, D.F.
- 2020 Navarro Castillo, Marx; Lowry, Justin. P.; & Paling, Jason S. R. “Testing the Waters: Tzeltal Maya Rituals, Reconnaissance, and Survey of Lakes in the Lacanhá Basin, Chiapas, Mexico”. Journal of Maritime Archaeology, 15(4), 451-474.
- 2018 Rivas Romero, Javier, Christopher Götz, Traci Ardren, Alejandra Alonso, Justin Lowry, and T. Kam Manahan “La explotación de recursos faunísticos en el sitio maya yucateco de Xuenkal durante el Clásico Tardío y Terminal” Mexicon 40.6, December 2018.
- 2018 Lowry, Justin and Chris Sabick “Leave only bubbles, take only pictures.” Guest Editorial. Lake Champlain Weekly: May 23 – May 29, 2018.
- 2018 Witte, James C., Lowry, J.P. Buzas, O., David, L., Samba, M.M., Sereke-Brhan, H. & Mane, B. “Diversity in the District: A Report on African Immigrant Communities in Washington D.C.” report published by the Office of the Mayor of Washington D.C.
- 2018 Navarro Castillo, Marx, Jason R.S. Paling and Justin P. Lowry. “Proyecto Arqueológico Rancho Ojo de Agua en la Periferia de Centros Clásicos Mayas Informe de la Segunda Temporada de Campo 2017 Presentado al Consejo de Arqueología Instituto Nacional de Antropología, Argentina Número 12, Esq. Donceles, Colonia Centro Código Postal 06060 México, D.F.
- 2017 Lowry, Justin P. “45 for 45th: Metro 11.” Metropolitan Immigration Statistics Bundle prepared as part of the 45 fact sheets for the 45th president. http://iir.gmu.edu/45forthe45th/45for45
- 2017 Lowry, Justin P. “45 for 45th: State 26.” State Immigration Statistics Bundle prepared as part of the 45 fact sheets for the 45th president.
- 2017 Lowry, Justin P. “45 for 45th: National 8.” National Immigration Statistics Bundle prepared as part of the 45 fact sheets for the 45th president.
- 2017 Ardren, Traci, Hutson, S., Hixon, D., & Lowry J.P. “Connections beyond Chunchucmil.” Chapter in Ancient Maya Commerce Multidisciplinary Research at Chunchucmil. Editor Scott Hutson. University Press of Colorado. ISBN: 978-1-60732-539-0.
- 2016 Lowry, Justin “Institute for Immigration Research Immigration Data on Demand (iDod) service.” Public service for immigration data requests.
- 2016 Hohn, Marcia D., Witte, J.C., Lowry, J.P., & Fernández-Pena, J.R. “Immigrants in Health Care: Keeping Americans Healthy Through Care and Innovation.” Report published by the Institute for Immigration Research, George Mason University, June.
- 2015 Ardren, Traci, Lowry, J.P., Memory, M., Flanagan, K., & Busot, A. "Prehistoric Human Impact on Tree Island Lifecycles in the Florida Everglades." The Holocene 26(5):772-780.
- 2015 Lowry, Justin & Paling J.S.R. eds. “Informe, Chiquilistagua Archaeological Project (CAP) – Proyecto Arqueológico Chiquilistagua, Temporada de Campo 2014 y 2013, Recorrido, Mapeo, y Excavación.” Field report submitted to the Nicaraguan Cultural Institute (Instituto Nicaragüense de Cultura).
- 2014 Bonomo, M. F., Lowry, J. P., Tykot, R. H., & Gifford, J. A. “An Exploratory Non‐Destructive Provenance Analysis of Two Middle Archaic Greenstone Pendants from Little Salt Spring, Florida, USA”. Geoarchaeology, 29(2), 121-137.
- 2014 Lowry, Justin & Paling, J.S.R., eds. “Informe Inicial, Chiquilistagua Archaeological Project (CAP) – Proyecto Arqueológico Chiquilistagua, Temporada de Campo 2013, Recorrido, Mapeo, y Excavación.” Field report submitted to the Nicaraguan Cultural Institute (Instituto Nicaragüense de Cultura).
- 2012 Figures 1 – 5 for: Justeson, John Early Mesoamerican writing systems. In Deborah Nichols and Christopher A. Pool, eds., The Oxford Handbook of Mesoamerican Archaeology, pp. 830– 844. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
- 2011 Ardren, Traci, & Lowry, J.P. “The Travels of Maya Merchants in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries AD: Investigations at Xuenkal and the Greater Cupul Province, Yucatan, Mexico.” World Archaeology 43(03):428-443.
- 2009 Maps prepared for: Little, Walter E., and Smith, T.J. eds., (2009) Mayas in Postwar Guatemala: Harvest of Violence Revisited. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press.
- 2009 Lowry, Justin P.: “Capitulo 13: Investigación de la Estructura FN-565” Editors: T. Kam Manahan and Traci Ardren. Informe Global submitted to National Institute of Anthropology and History, Mexico, pp. 329-342.
- 2009 Lowry, Justin P., Stockdell, E., Cortes-Rincon, M., & Morehart, C. “Capitulo 3. Investigaciones de Reconocimiento y Mapeo” Editors: T. Kam Manahan and Traci Ardren. Informe Global submitted to National Institute of Anthropology and History, Mexico, pp. 27-33.
- 2008 Lowry, Justin P. “Capitulo 6. Análisis de Piedras de Molienda.” Editors: T. Kam Manahan and Traci Ardren. Analysis Report submitted to National Institute of Anthropology and History, Mexico, pp. 164-188.
- 2008 Lowry, Justin P. “Chapter 6: Suboperation 14, 15, 16, and 17 Complexes; A Classic-Period Mound Group Bordering Plaza A,” San Estevan Archaeological Project 2008 edited by Robert M. Rosenswig. Field report submitted to the Department of Archeology, Belmopan, Belize, pp 69-88.
- 2007 Lowry, Justin P. “Survey and Mapping Investigations,” in Regional Investigations at the Cupul Province Trading Center of Xuenkal: Proyecto Arqueológico Xuenkal. FAMSI publication, pp 5-8.
- 2005 Lowry, Justin P. “Investigaciones de Inspección y de Mapeo” in Proyecto Arqueológico Xuenkal Temporada Del Campo 2005 Recorrido, Mapeo, y Excavación de Pozos de Sondeo. Editors: T. Kam Manahan and Traci Ardren. Field report submitted to National Institute of Anthropology and History, Mexico, pp. 4-8.
News & Releases
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Saraceni, Jessica Esther. “Possible Maya Cacao Tree Groves Discovered in Mexico.” Archaeology Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022, https://www.archaeology.org/news/10312-220201-mexico-maya-cacao.
- Brigham Young University. “Locations of ancient Maya sacred groves of cacao trees discovered: Findings show links among cacao cultivation, religion and power in region.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 31 Jan. 2022. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220131095024.htm
- Perrea, Talia. “Highland Cemetery Association seeks help from SUNY to uncover cemetery's past.” The Sun Community News, 23 Nov. 2021. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/93563/highland-cemetery-association-seeks-help-from-suny-to-uncover-cemeterys-past/
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Caudell, Robin. “Class to Explore Archaeology Wonders.” Press-Republican, 22 Dec. 2020. https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/class-to-explore-archaeology-wonders/article_5193aafc-4cbd-560f-87ad-072ba7c123bf.html
- Recent Presentations
- 2019 Lowry, Justin P., Skelly Skolnick, and Adam Benfer “Mapping of Ancient Managua, Nicaragua using GIS.” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Albuquerque New Mexico.
- 2018 Flores, Ilona; Lowry, Justin P. “Exploring Migration and Resilience: a Study of Cultural Artifacts in the Context of Immigration Policy Change” Paper presented at the American Anthropological Association Meetings in San Jose, CA.
- 2018 Paling, J.S.R., Navarro Castillo, Marx, Lowry, Justin P. ”Underwater Archaeological Survey of Freshwater Lagoons in the Lacanjá Basin, Chiapas, Mexico” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Washington D.C.
- 2017 Paling, J.S.R., Lowry, Justin P., & Dutton, H “Ceramics from Chiquilistagua, a Chemical Analysis” Paper presented at the 50th Chacmool Conference, Calgary, Canada.
- 2017 Lowry, Justin P. “Chiquilistagua, Managua, Nicaragua” Paper presented at the I Coloquio Nacional de Arqueologia Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua.
- 2017 Sternberg, Even, Lowry, J.P., & Paling, J.S.R: “Contemplating Trade Corridors: Cost and Pathway Analysis around Managua, Nicaragua,” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Vancouver, Canada.
- 2016 Hohn, Marcia D., Mohammed, D., Lowry, J.P. “Immigrants in Health Care: Imperatives for Workforce Development” Workshop at the Effective Transitions in Adult Education Conference, Warwick, RI.
- 2016 Lowry, Justin P. “Reconstrucciones en 3D, arqueología aplicada en el sitio de Acahualinca, Managua Nicaragua” Paper presented at the Mayor’s Office of Managua’s meeting on the future potential world heritage status of the archaeological site Acahualinca, Managua, Nicaragua.
- 2016 Lowry, Justin P. Invited Participant Forum on the Future of Nicaraguan Archaeology “Encuentro Nacional de Arqueólogos” Hosted by: El Instituto Nicaragüense de Cultura, Director Luís Morales Alonso
- 2016 Sternberg, Even, Lowry, J.P., & Paling, J.S.R. “Trade and inter-community networks around Managua, Nicaragua,” Poster presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Orlando, Florida.
- 2015 Lowry, Justin P., Paling, J.S.R., & Quinn, C.: “Obsidian Trade from the Perspective of Chiquilistagua, Managua, Nicaragua” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, San Francisco, California.
- 2015 Witte, James C., Lowry, J.P., & Mohammed, D. “Mapping Immigrant Populations in the United States” Session at the Immigration History conference. Immigrant America: New Immigration Histories from 1965 to 2015. Minnesota.
- 2014 Lowry, Justin P., & Paling, J.S.R. “Resultados preliminares: Excavaciones arqueológicas en la comunidad de Chiquilistagua 2013.” Conversatorio Arqueológico: Realidades y Retos de la ciencia en Nicaragua. Conference held at the center for archaeology and documentation, University of Nicaragua, Managua (Centro Arqueológico de Documentación e Investigación UNAN, Managua).
- 2014 Lowry, Justin P., Paling, J.S.R., & Quinn, C.: “Chiquilistagua Archaeological Project 2013 Season,” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Austin, Texas.
- 2014 Witte, James C., & Lowry, J.P. “The Contribution of Refugees and Immigrants to the Social and Economic Landscape of the United States.” Presentation given at the Ethiopian Community Development Council ECDC, Washington D.C.
- 2013 Lowry, Justin P., & Ardren, T. “Preclassic Houses: A Study of House Form and Function in the Late Preclassic at Xuenkal,” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Honolulu, Hawaii.
- 2011 Lowry, Justin P., & Ardren, T. “Late Preclassic Xuenkal: a village or a city?” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Sacramento, California.
- 2011 Ardren, Traci, & Lowry, J.P. “Comercio a Larga Distancia y Mantenimiento de Identidad en el Clásico Temprano de Chunchucmil,” Paper presented at the III Congreso Internacional de Cultura Maya, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
- 2010 Lowry, Justin P., Ardren, T., & Wesp, J.K. “Getting It Out There: Education and Archaeology,” Paper presented at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology in Merida, Mexico. March 24-27.
- 2009 Stockdell, Eric K., Lowry, J.P., Gutiérrez Báez, C., & Manahan, T.K. Presentation: “Rejolladas en Xuenkal” Paper presented at the 19° Anual Encuentro Internacional “Los Investigadores de la Cultura Maya” in Campeche, Campeche, México.
- 2009 Lowry, Justin P. “A K-means Cluster Analysis of Ceramics from Mayapan” Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Chacmool Conference, Calgary, British Columbia, Canada.
- 2009 Lowry, Justin P. “GIS Application in Archaeology with a Case Study from Yucatan, Mexico” Paper presented at the 32nd Applied Geography Conference, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- 2009 Lowry, Justin P. “GIS at Xuenkal: Laying Down the Framework for Geodatabases with a Case Study from the Late Preclassic Yucatan” Paper presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Atlanta, Georgia.
- 2009 Lowry, Justin P. “GIS Applications in Archaeology: Steps to a Geodatabase, with Data from Xuenkal, Yucatan, Mexico.” Paper presented at the Anthropology Graduate Student Symposium, SUNY Albany, New York.
- 2009 Navarro Castillo, Marx, Paling, J.S.R., & Lowry, J.P. “Análisis del Uso-Desgaste de Herramientas Líticas y de Concha.” Poster presented at the 53rd Congreso Internacional de Americanistas, Mexico City, Mexico.
- 2009 Lowry, Justin P. “Implementing GIS at archaeological sites: a how-to, with a case study from Xuenkal, Yucatan, Mexico.” Paper presented at the SUNY Albany AGSO symposium.
- 2008 Paling, Jason S.R., Lowry, J.P., & Navarro Castillo, M. “Use-Wear Analysis of Stone and Shell Tools.” Poster presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- 2006 Manahan, T. Kam, Ardren, T., Lowry, J.P., Stockdell, E., & Workinger, A. “Defining Chichén Itzá’s Regional Influence: Recent Settlement Pattern Research from Xuenkal, Yucatán, Mexico.” Paper presented at the 71st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 2005 Manahan, T. Kam, Ardren, T., Workinger, A., & Lowry, J.P. “Patrones de Asentamiento en Xuenkal Desde una Perspectiva Regional”. Paper presented at the 15th Anual Encuentro Internacional “Los Investigadores de la Cultura Maya” in Campeche, Campeche, México.
- 2005 Ardren, Traci, Lowry, J.P., & Deloge, A. “Xuenkal, Mapping the Regional Polity of Chichen Itza”, Poster presented at the Society for American Archaeology Meetings, Salt Lake City, Utah, March.
- 2004 Lowry, Justin P. “Little Salt Spring, Overview and 2002 Field Season.” Florida Academy of Science, Annual Meeting, March. Miami, Florida.
- 2003 Lowry, Justin P. “Little Salt Spring, An Ancient Oasis.” Florida Anthropology Society Annual Meeting, May. Tallahassee, Florida.
- Grants, Awards & Honors
- Summer 2018 and Spring 2019: SUNY Plattsburgh CP2 Pedagogy in Teaching Common Problem Courses: “Safe Cities” Project in Conjunction with Mustafa Demir, Criminal Justice Department ($1,500); “Field Archaeology” Project in Conjunction with Jerry Isaac, Expeditionary Studies ($1,500).
- Spring, 2016 – Spring, 2018: Extension of Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Co-PI on grant for project investigating the role of immigrants in community service organizations ($270,000).
- Spring, 2016: Nominee for Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year. This award nomination was given for work guiding, advising, and overseeing undergraduate research grants through Mason’s Office of Undergraduate Scholarship and Research (OSCAR).
- Spring, 2016: Associate Provost’s Recognition for High Student Evaluations in Mason Core Courses.
- Summer, 2016: “Diploma de Agradecimiento Moral y Perpetuo” Certificate of moral and eternal gratitude for rescue archaeological work and advice given in summer, 2015. Award presented by the Director of the Department of History and Cultural Patrimony, Mayor’s Office, Managua, Nicaragua.
- Summer, 2016: “Diploma de Gratitud” Certificate of Thanks for presentation at the Mayor’s Office of Managua’s meeting on the future potential world heritage status of the archaeological site Acahualinca, Managua, Nicaragua.
- Spring, 2015: The Center for a Public Anthropology, Public Anthropology’s Franz Boas Global Citizenship Award “…this award recognizes Dr. Lowry’s exceptionally effective participation in Public Anthropology’s Community Action Online Project as well as his wider activities in the public sphere.”
- Summer, 2013: Kickstarter: Dig It! Chiquilistagua Archaeological Project. Crowdsource grant for excavations and research at Chiquilistagua Archaeological Site, Nicaragua ($5,750).