Michael Edward Moseley

Distinguished Professor of Anthropology. Recognized for contributions to Andean archaeology, which demonstrate the long and short-term influences of the natural environment on early human societies. This dynamic relationship of humans and the environment has been a central concern to him. Models incorporate different kinds of natural phenomena that have been overlooked by others. For example, using paleoclimate and archaeological data, Moseley showed the effects of El Ni�o on prehistoric agriculture and settlement. He encouraged researchers to document the effects of river downcutting and large-scale tectonic movements to explain irrigation and settlement locations. This attention to the natural environment led to a more rigorous research climate, one that has allowed a more complete understanding of the political economy. From the North coast to the South coast of Peru, Moseley has made major contributions to understanding the pace and tempo of developments. His work underscored the importance of long-term fieldwork and how sterile our theoretical frameworks would be without such detailed knowledge. His particular strength lies in evaluating economic, environmental, and political factors and incorporating them into a framework to explain the evolution of Andean polities, from simple villages to empires.