History – Faculty

Bio

A native of Ohio along the shores of Lake Erie, Dr. Walton joined Francis Marion University in 2025 to conduct archaeological research in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina. His research and teaching are focused on North America and Mesoamerica, specifically through the lenses of household archaeology, historical archaeology, ritual practices, and the study of ancient technologies. In addition to field surveys and excavations, he specializes in the study of stone tools through experimental archaeology and high-power use-wear analysis. Consequently, flint knapping lessons for students are included in his classes.

In addition to many technical reports completed for cultural resource management projects, his academic publications have appeared in journals such as Antiquity, Ancient Mesoamerica, Journal of Field Archaeology, and Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. To help reach the popular audience, he has appeared on television episodes of The UnXplained on History and co-hosted a documentary special called Lost Pyramids of the Aztecs (2020).

Education

PhD, Boston University, 2017

BA, The College of Wooster, 2009

Courses Taught:

Introduction to Archaeology

Archaeology of the Southeastern United States

Archaeology in South Carolina

Mesoamerican Archaeology

North American Archaeology