Kweku Williams

Kweku Afirim Williams M.A.

Master’s graduate in anthropology, specializing in archaeology
Possess a thorough knowledge on excavation practices and artifact analysis
A proficient leader and mentor to students and faculty

Education
Master of Arts in Archaeology, emphasis Archaeology, May 2014 ,Northern Illinois University; DeKalb, IL, USA, Supervisor: Dr. Michael Kolb
Thesis :Williams, Kweku (2014)” Space and Specialization: Understanding the Medieval economic behavior through ceramics in Salemi Sicily”, Northern Illinois University press
Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology and World history, Cum Laude , May 2010 ,State University of New York at Albany; Albany, New York, USA ,Supervisor: Dr. Sean Rafferty

Research Experience
Schoharie Valley Field School, New York. Received training in archeological techniques in surveying, excavation and artifact analysis and preservation (2010).Supervisor: Dr. Christina Reith
State Museum of New York, New for the Cultural Resources Survey Program at the State Museum of New York. York. Conducted archeological surveys (2008-2011) , Supervisor: Dr. Christina Reith
Archeological field school, Salemi, Sicily Italy. Collected data for Masters these and received further training in archeological techniques in surveying, excavation and artifact analysis and preservation (2012) Supervisor: Doctor Michel Kolb
Assisted in the mapping of waterways in the city of Caja in the province of Andalusia Spain for the Hydro-archeology project out of the University of Catujia (2012). Supervisor: Dr. José Maria Cervantes
Crew chief and field manager at the Ka’ka Bish field school in the province of Orange walk, Belize. Field school out of Trent University (2013) Supervisor: Dr. Helen Haynes

Academic Positions

Graduate Assistant, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL NIU Anthropology Museum(2011-14 )
Coordinated the exhibit development team; Assisted in the developed and installed the following exhibits:
Fast food 10,000 B.C.
Trowels and Fair-trade: the material culture of the Underground Railroad and contemporary slavery
Provided tours and lectures on the content of exhibits and fostered appreciation for education and cultural diversity
Ka’ka Bish field school instructor (2013), Trent University
Provided students with the essentials for archeological studies: laying out units, mapping (plan view and profile), calculating elevations and stadia metric distances, the essentials of logistical management of unit forms, proper note taking in field journals, and the collection and labeling of artifact bags.

Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Taught Introduction into physical anthropology Anth 210 :
Lectures given: The life history and social behavior of the of the Mountain gorilla
Taught Exploratory Archeology Anth 210:
Lectures given: The rise of the city states of Mesopotamia, The Bronze age in the western Mediterranean, Classic period of the Maya Lowlands.

Community Service

NIU cares Day beatification and clean up in the city of DeKalb (2012)
Participated in the beautification of DeKalb historical landmarks a public parks
Hoops for change(2009-Presnet )
I participated various in basketball tournaments for various charities
Academic event coordinated

Coordinated the Midwest Mesoamerican Archaeological conference at Northern Illinois University(2104)

Awards and fellowships

Anthropology foundation fund Award(2012 )`
Rhoten A. Smith Fellowship(2012-14)
Center for Latin American studies grant for professional development (2013)
Illinois Association of Museums Superior Exhibit Award for Trowels and Fair trade Exhibit at the Anthropology Museum of Northern Illinois University(2013 )

Professional Membership
Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honor Society (2009-present)
Phi Beta Delta international honor society (2012-present)
Research Interest
Political organization and trade in the Mediterranean (Medieval Era), Middle Eastern archeology, Islamic history, trade routes on a local and trans local scale in the Mediterranean, Islamic European cultural diffusion, Hellenic and medieval warfare in the middle east, battle tactics of medieval cultures.

The development of the political use of the ballgame in the valley of Oaxaca and the Maya Lowlands from the middle classic to the post classic period

The use of the ballgame as a political tool for elite acquisition of resources, during late formative to the classic period.

The ritual meaning and use of the Maya ballgame in the classical period.

Mesoamerica warfare and how it correlates with resources availability in the highlands and lowlands.

The ecological models that explain the rise of state level civilizations