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Elizabeth Brumfiel
Born March 10, 1945
Chicago, Illinois, US
Died January 1, 2012(2012-01-01) (aged 66)
Nationality American
Alma mater University of Michigan
University of California, Los Angeles
Scientific career
Fields Archaeology
Institutions Northwestern University
Albion College

Elizabeth M. Brumfiel (born Elizabeth Stern; March 10, 1945 – January 1, 2012) was an American archaeologist. An archaeologist is a scientist who studies human history by digging up and examining old objects and places. Elizabeth Brumfiel taught at Northwestern University and Albion College. She was also the president of the American Anthropological Association, a large group for people who study human societies and cultures.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Brumfiel was born in Chicago, Illinois. She went to Evanston Township High School. In 1966 and 1967, she was a volunteer with the Peace Corps in La Paz, Bolivia. The Peace Corps is a program where Americans volunteer to help people in other countries.

She earned her first degree (B.A.) in anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1965. Anthropology is the study of humans, past and present. She later received her master's degree (M.A.) in anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1969. She completed her Ph.D. (a high-level research degree) in anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1976.

Her Career as an Archaeologist

Elizabeth Brumfiel had a long and important career. After her time with the Peace Corps, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Michigan.

From 1970 to 1977, she taught at Eastern Michigan University. She then moved to Albion College in Michigan. There, she became an assistant professor in anthropology and sociology. She later became a full professor in 1989. In 1996, she was given a special title as the John S. Ludington, Endowed Professor.

In 2003, she joined Northwestern University. She taught there for many years. From 2003 to 2005, she served as the president of the American Anthropological Association. This shows how respected she was in her field.

Archaeological Research

Brumfiel's research focused on several key areas. She studied how gender (the social roles of men and women) and political economy (how power and money are organized in societies) were connected in ancient cultures. She also explored how archaeology links to other studies like gender studies and political science.

She led an archaeological project at a place called Xaltocan in Mexico, starting in 1987. Before that, she worked at other Mexican sites like Monte Albán, Xico, and Huexotla.

Elizabeth Brumfiel was one of the first scholars to look closely at the role of women in the ancient Aztec culture. She studied how women's daily lives, like preparing food and making textiles (cloth), changed over time.

She was also on the editorial boards for important academic journals like Latin American Antiquity and Ancient Mesoamerica. She helped create the World Council of Anthropological Associations. Brumfiel was known for her strong beliefs in social justice and human rights.

In 2007, she received the Eagle Warrior Prize, a special honor. From 2008 to 2009, she helped organize a major exhibit called "The Aztec World" at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

Personal Life and Death

Elizabeth Brumfiel was married to Vincent Brumfiel, and they had a son named Geoffrey. She passed away on January 1, 2012, from cancer in Skokie, Illinois.

Significant Works

Elizabeth Brumfiel wrote and edited many important books and articles about her archaeological research. Some of her notable works include:

  • 2003 Factional Competition and Political Development in the New World (co-edited with John W. Fox)
  • 2005 La Producción Local y el Poder en el Xaltocan Posclásico – Production and Power at Postclassic Xaltocan
  • 2008 Specialization, Exchange and Complex Societies (co-edited with Timothy K. Earle)
  • 2008 The Aztec World (co-edited with Gary M. Feinman)
  • 2010 Gender, Households, and Society: Unraveling the Threads of the Past and the Present (co-edited with Cynthia Robin)

See also

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