Bio:
Matt Stirn is an archaeologist and journalist based in Jackson, Wyoming. Focusing on hunter gatherer lifeways in mountainous environments, landscape modeling, and biomolecular residues Matt has conducted archeological research in Northwestern Wyoming for over 16 years in the Wind River, Absaroka, Teton, and Gros Ventre Mountains. Outside of the Rocky Mountains Matt worked for five years as an archaeobotanist at the Roman estate of Vagnari and is currently the site topographer and mapper at Iklaina in southwestern Greece where he has worked since 2016. Beyond his academic work, Matt writes and photographs stories about archaeology, history, and culture for publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, BBC, National Geographic, and Archaeology Magazine where he works as a contributing editor. Matt is a board member for the Rocky Mountain Anthropological Society and a National Fellow at The Explorer’s Club.
Recent and Ongoing Research:
High Elevation Archaeology in Wyoming’s Teton, Wind River, Absaroka, and Gros Ventre Mountains
Paleoclimatic and Hunter Gatherer Research in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Biomolecular Approaches to Interpreting Hunter Gatherer Diet and Cuisine
Archaeobotany and Roman Farming Strategies at Vagnari, Puglia, Italy
Mycenaean Studies at Iklaina Archaeological Project, Messenia, Greece
Academic Publications:
2023 – Stirn, M., Sgouros, R. ‘Absorbed Lipid Residues in Prehistoric High-Elevation
Surface Artifacts Found in the Wyoming mountains. Hunter Gatherer Research.
2022 – Stirn,M. & Sgouros, R. ‘Botanical Remains and Roman Farming Practices’ in
The Making of a Roman Imperial Estate: Archaeology in the Vicus at Vagnari,
Puglia, ed. Maureen Carroll. Archaeopress
2020 – Stirn, M. ‘Considering High Altitudes Within the Numic Debate’ in Current
Research and Future Directions in Numic Archaeology: Ethnohistory, and
Ethnography in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and
Southwest, ed. Robert Brunswig. University of Colorado Press
2017 – Stirn, M. & Sgouros, R. ‘The Teton Archaeological Project: Report from the
2014 Inaugural Season.’ University of Wyoming-National Park Research Station
Annual Report.
2016 – Sgouros, R., and M. Stirn ’10,000 Years of History: Community Heritage and
Place-Based Learning at the Linn Site, Idaho. Advances in Archaeological
Practice.
2016 – Sgouros, R., and M. Stirn ‘An Ice Patch Artifact and Paleobiological Specimen
from the Teton Mountains, Wyoming, USA. Journal of Glacial Archaeology.
2014 – Stirn, M. ‘Modeling Site Location Patterns Amongst Late-Prehistoric Villages in
the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming’ Journal of Archaeological Science, 41:
523-532.
2014 – Stirn, M (ed.) ‘Mountain and High-Altitude Archaeology’ Special issue of the
SAA Archaeological Record, 14(2).
2014 – Stirn, M. ‘Why All the Way Up There? Mountain and High-Altitude
Archaeology’ SAA Archaeological Record, 14(2): 7-10.
2014 – Adams, R., Taylor, T., Taylor, M., Lund, J., Schroeder, B., Koenig, O., and Stirn,
M. ‘Untrammeled by Man: Wilderness Archaeology in Wyoming’ SAA
Archaeological Record, 14(2): 11-14.
General Audience Publications:
2024 – Wichita Bison Hunters. Archaeology Magazine
2024 – Great Basin Megadrought. Archaeology Magazine
2023 – Prehistory of Patagonia. Archaeology Magazine
2023 – Mammoth Hunters of the High Plains. Archaeology Magazine
2022 – Bronze Age Research at Iklaina. The New York Times
2022 – Archaeology of Chinese Railroad Workers. Smithsonian Magazine
2021 – Wadi Sabu Rock Art, Sudan. BBC World News
2021 – Maliwawa Rock Art, Australia. Archaeology Magazine
2020 – Prehistoric Alpine Villages in the Wind River Mountains. Archaeology Magazine
2020 – Uncovering Kerma. Archaeology Magazine
2020 – The Forgotten History of Sudan. Smithsonian Magazine
2019 – Rescuing Frozen Artifacts in the Rocky Mountains. BBC World News
2018 – Imperial Farming at Roman Vagnari. Archaeology Magazine
2017 – High Elevation Archaeology. National Geographic
