I am an anthropological archaeologist who studies the emergence of, and transformations in, socio-political complexity. More specifically, my research involves the acquisition and analysis of new archaeological data to explain how political inequalities develop and are discernible in public and private representations, such as symbol systems, iconography, house style and public structures, and pottery. While my research is primarily focused on Early Formative (1400-850 BC) villages in Oaxaca, Mexico, my interests also encompass other eras of socio-political transformation, and my research and writing interrogates interregional interaction, style, gender and bodies, power, religion and ideology. As an anthropological archaeologist, I view myself as a bridge between the Bio-anthropologists and the Socio-cultural anthropologists in the Anthropology Department, balancing both primary data acquisition with theoretical and interpretive contributions; this is reflected in my research, teaching, and administrative duties.