Assistant Clinical Professor
Phone: (208) 426-3444
Email: mariozimmermann@boisestate.edu
Office: Mathematics Building, Room 137B
Biography
Mario is an archaeologist specializing in paleoethnobotany and chemical residues studies. His research focuses on foodways and ethnopharmacology and his collaborations with local stakeholders aim to transmit traditional ecological knowledge from the past and present into the future. Being originally trained as a Maya archaeologist, Mario employs microbotanical approaches to study the appearance and diversity of staple crop complexes on the Yucatan Peninsula. More specifically, he is interested in the role of root crops such as sweet potato, manioc, or arrowroot, in the subsistence of ancient Maya cities. As part of an NSF-funded interdisciplinary team, Mario is also engaged in ancient metabolomics research centered on the history of psychoactive substance use. He is tracing medicinal and ceremonial applications of plants such as tobacco and datura throughout western North America and investigates the impact of foreign drugs like cannabis and opium on new consumer populations as a result of the Columbian exchange system.
Education
Ph.D., Anthropology, Washington State University
M.S., Anthropology, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
B.S., Archaeology, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
Professional Interests
- Paleoethnobotany
- Chemical Residues
- Foodways
- Ethnopharmacology
- Historical Archaeology
Courses Taught
– UF 100 Humans, Animals, and Aliens
– ANTH 105 Evolution and Human Behavior
– ANTH 320 Latin American Prehistory
– ANTH 425 Medical Anthropology