M.A. Anthropology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1997
B.G.S. Science and Mathematics-with Honors, Indiana University Northwest, 1995
A.G.S. Science and Mathematics-with Distinction, Indiana University Northwest, 1994
A.A.Sc. Radiological Sciences, Kankakee College, 1975

Sloan R Williams, Ph.D.

2003, Dean’s Scholar Award, University of Illinois at Chicago
2002, Provost’s Award, University of Illinois at Chicago
2001, Wenner Gren Foundation Dissertation Fieldwork Grant
2000, Field Museum of Natural History Collections Study Grant
1999, Sigma Xi Grants-In-Aid of Research Grant
1998, Field Museum of Natural History Collections Study Grant
1997, Field Museum of Natural History Collections Study Grant

Research Interests:

Biological anthropology, archaeology, ancient DNA studies, paleoradiography, South America.

Current Research:

As a biological anthropologist, I am using osteological and ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis to address anthropological questions, particularly those involving genetic relationships among human archaeological remains. Because traditional studies often use less direct data sets, the incorporation of molecular genetic methods offers us the opportunity to explore questions that other methods have been unable to address. The difficulties of working with aDNA are many due to the degraded, fragmentary nature of DNA from archaeological remains. Thus, a significant portion of my work involves new techniques and modifications to existing protocols often used in modern DNA studies.

My research will test current hypotheses regarding the role of the famed Nasca trophy heads from the south coast of Peru during the Early Intermediate Period (AD 1-750). The function of trophy heads has been hotly argued for nearly a century now, both as objects of ancestor veneration and as trophies of war. The analysis of aDNA extracted from skeletal remains provides the most direct evidence of the genetic relationships between these unique artifacts and the individuals with whom they were buried. Thus, I will compare genetic variation between these human trophy heads and comparative skeletal remains from sites within the Nazca valley, and from sites from valleys to the north and south of the Nazca valley. This analysis will allow me to determine the most likely origin of the individuals whose heads were modified into these unique artifacts. Results of this study will allow me to address Nasca sociopolitical structure, its role in Andean prehistory, and in New World history in general.

Forgey, K. and S. R Williams. The Nasca Trophy Heads: Warfare Trophies of Revered Ancestors? In Interacting with the Dead: Perspectives on Mortuary Archaeology for the New Millenium, G. Ratika, J. Buikstra, L. Beck, and S. Williams, eds. 2004. In review.

Forgey, K. and S. R Williams. Cabezas trofeo Nasca: evidencias osteologicas y arqueologicas de la coleccion Kroeber. 2003. Revista Andina, 36: 237-261.

Williams, S.R., Forgey, K., and E. Klarich. An Osteological Study of Nasca Trophy Heads Collected During the Marshall Field Expeditions to Peru (1925-1926). 2001. Fieldiana.

Presentations and Invited Lectures:

An Ancient DNA Study of Nasca Trophy Heads and Comparative Remains. 69th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Montreal, CA 2004

Skeletal Analysis, Cultural Issues, Anthropological Perspectives. Center for Medical Imaging in Bioanthropology, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI 2003

Archaeology and Radiography in the Moche and Jequetepeque Valleys, Peru. Arkansas State University Center for Medical Imaging in Bioanthropology, State University, AR 2003

Human Trophy Heads as Evidence of Warfare or Ancestor Veneration. Fifth Annual Darwin Day Celebration of Science and Humanity, Indiana University Northwest, Gary 2003

The Nasca Trophy Heads: Warfare Trophies or Revered Ancestors? 66th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, New Orleans, LA 2001

An Osteological Analysis of Trophy Heads from the Nazca Valley, Peru. Midwest Andean and Amazonian Conference, Fort Wayne, IN 2000

Current Field Research in the Nazca Valley, Peru. Indiana University Northwest, Gary 1999

1998 Fieldwork in the Moche Valley, Peru. Indiana University Northwest, Gary 1998

Preliminary Analysis of the Nasca “Trophy Skulls” Recovered During the Captain Marshall Field Expeditions of 1925 and 1926. Midwest Bioarchaeology and Forensic Anthropology Association; Loyola University, Chicago 1997

Human Skulls as Trophies. Center for American Archaeology, Kampsville, Illinois 1997

Life Over Time: The Hominid Fossil Record. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago 1997