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Bonnie Clark

Bonnie J. Clark

Professor, Archaeology; Chair

bonnie.clark@du.edu

Sturm Hall, 2000 East Asbury Avenue Denver, CO 80208

What I do

I am committed to using tangible history – objects, sites, and landscapes—to broaden understanding of our diverse human past.

Specialization(s)

Community engaged research, artifact analysis, landscape archaeology

Professional Biography

Dr. Bonnie J. Clark began her career as a professional archaeologist and now serves as a Professor in the Anthropology Department at the University of Denver (DU), as well as a Curator for Archaeology of the DU Museum of Anthropology. She is the author or editor of numerous publications including Finding Solace in the Soil: An Archaeology of Gardens and Gardeners at Amache and On the Edge of Purgatory: An Archaeology of Place in Hispanic Colorado. Dr. Clark currently co-leads the Amache Community Archaeology Project, a collaboration committed to researching, preserving, and interpreting the physical history of Amache, Colorado’s WWII-era Japanese American internment camp. That work has been highlighted in numerous venues including Archaeology and American Archaeology magazines. In 2011, Dr. Clark’s work was recognized by her peers with the University of Denver’s Teacher/Scholar of the Year award, and in 2022, she was the recipient of a commendation from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Degree(s)

  • Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, 2003
  • MA, Anthropology, University of Denver, 1996

Professional Affiliations

  • American Anthropological Association
  • Society for Historical Archaeology
  • Society for American Anthropology
  • Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists

Media Sources

Research

Since 2005, I have served as a Principal Investigator of Amache Community Archaeology Project, a community collaboration that leverages the resources and expertise of the university in public scholarship and heritage preservation. The keystone of the project is a biannual field school in archaeology and museum studies which incorporates undergraduate and graduate students, high school interns, and community volunteers. These diverse crews learn about the practice of archaeology and museum studies in an applied setting while helping to better understand and protect this National Historic Site. The field school has been recognized by the Society for Historical Archaeology for its commitment to increasing the diversity of the discipline. More about the Amache project can be found at https://amachearchaeology.com 

Other areas of ongoing research include the integration of authentic science into the curriculum, particularly through engaging students in artifact analysis and experimentation.

Areas of Research

Artifact analysis and replication
anthropological approaches to placemaking
the anthropology and archaeology of gardens
lived experiences of identity

Key Projects

  • 2024 Amache field school in historic archaeology and museum studies
  • Amache Archaeological Overview and Assessment (AOA)-DU
  • 2018 Amache Archaeology and Museum Field School

Featured Publications

Clark, Bonnie J. Finding Solace In The Soil: An Archaeology Of Gardens And Gardeners At Amache. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado. 2020.
Clark, Bonnie J. “Artistic Explorations Of Place: Creative Pragmatism In University Anthropology Museums.” In Pragmatic Imagination And The New Museum Anthropology. edited by Christina F. Kreps. New York: Routledge. 2024.
Clark, Bonnie J., and Audrey Horning. “An Introduction To Global Dialogues On Collaborative Archaeology.” Archaeologies 15, no. 3, (2019): 343-351.
Clark, Bonnie J. “Artifacts, Contested Histories, And Other Archaeological Hotspots.” Historical Archaeology, (2018).
Clark, Bonnie J., and Anne Coats Amati. “Powerful Objects, Difficult Dialogues: Mobilizing Archaeological Exhibits For Civic Engagement. .” International Journal of Heritage Studies, (2018).
Clark, Bonnie J. “Freshman Sourcing Obsidian: Using Pxrf In The Introductory Archaeology Classroom.” The SAA Archaeological Record May 2016, (2016): 13-16.
Clark, Bonnie J. On The Edge Of Purgatory: An Archaeology Of Place In Hispanic Colorado. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA: University of Nebraska Press. 2011.
Archaeological Landscapes On The High Plains. Edited by Laura L. Scheiber and Bonnie J. Clark. Boulder, USA: University Press of Colorado. 2008.

Performances

Bonnie J. Clark, Brooke Rohde, and Anne Amati, Connecting the Pieces: Dialogues on the DU Amache Collection, DU gallery, DU Museum of Anthropology, 2017.

Presentations

Clark, Bonnie J. “The Archaeology Of Sex And Gender: The View From Lena Gulch ” Colorado Council For Professional Archaeologists, Ouray, 2023.
Kamp-Whittaker, April, Bonnie J. Clark, and Dana Ogo Shew. “Material Engagement And The Japanese American Incarceration Experience At Amache” Society For Historical Archaeology, Philadelphia, PA, 2022.
Clark, Bonnie J. “Giving Voice To History: The View From Amache” Saving Places, Denver, CO, Colorado Preservation, inc., 2018.

Awards

  • Japanese Foreign Minister Commendations 2022, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
  • University Scholar/Teacher of the Year, University of Denver and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church
  • Mark E. Mack Community Engagement Award, Society for Historical Archaeology
  • Public Good Faculty of the Year, Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
  • Field School Diversity Award, Society for Historical Archaeology, Gender and Minority Affairs Committee