2016
Diatom analysis in the San Francisco Bay area. Responsible for the identification of diatom species present throughout the Holocene evolution of Islais Creek marsh. The paleoclimate record and sea level history is revealed by this important group of microfossils. Project sponsored by Far Western Anthropological Group, Inc. under supervision of Dr. Phil Kaijankoski.
Diatom analysis of a late Pleistocene-Early Holocene diatomite from El Fin del Mundo, Sonora, Mexico. Responsible for the identification of diatom species and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of a aquatic system that, in addition, contained the remains of a gomophothere (Proboscidea). The paleoclimnate record shows the onset of the Younger Dryas around 11,550 14C yr BP. Project sponsored by UNAM/INAH/UofA under the supervision of Drs. Elizabeth Solleiro and Guadalupe Sanchez.
Microinvertebrates of Casa Blanca III canals, Gila River Indian Community. Responsible for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of prehistoric and historic canals of the Casa Blanca III network. Late Archaic, Hohokam Pioneer, and Akimel O’odham/Pee Posh periods canals display the impact of climate change on the environment. The Historic period canals, particularly, show a cold/wet event around the mid-19th century in the Middle Gila River Valley, Arizona.
2015
China Lake Basin mollusk analysis and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Responsible for the identification of mollusk species present across the basin for the reconstruction of late Pleistocene lacustrine deposits. Project sponsored by Far Western Anthropological Group, Inc, under supervision of Dr. Jeff Rosenthal.
Peña Blanca Lake, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Responsible for the analysis of diatom response to heavy metal occurrence in the lake after draining, dredging and refilling the basin in 2008. Project sponsored by the United States Geological Survey- Tucson Office, under supervision of Dr. Floyd Gray.
Patagonia Lake, Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Responsible for the analysis of microinvertebrates affected by heavy metal pollution since the creation of this artificial lake in 1961. Project sponsored by the United States Geological Survey- Tucson Office, under supervision of Dr. Floyd Gray.
2013-2014
Blackwater Draw, NM: Analysis of diatomaceous earth from the Clovis type site. Responsible for the analysis of diatoms of this famous geoarchaeological site in New Mexico. Project sponsored by Dr. C. Vance Haynes, School of Anthropology, University of Arizona.
Mockingbird Gap, NM: Micropaleontological analysis of a Clovis site. Responsible for the analysis of microinvertebrates and microflora in the wetlands formed in this geoarchaeological site in New Mexico. Project sponsored by Dr. Vance T. Holliday, School of Anthropology, University of Arizona.
Scholle Cienega at Abo Arroyo, NM: Younger Dryas micropaleontology. Responsible for the analysis of ostracodes in the wetland formed during the Younger Dryas in central New Mexico. Project sponsored by Red Rock Geological Enterprises, Ltd. and Dr. Stephen A. Hall, Santa Fe, NM.
Santan Canal Project Paleoecological Reconstruction, Sacaton, Arizona. Responsible for the analysis of microinvertebrates and calcareous algae in Hohokam canals. Project sponsored by Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd. for the Gila River Indian Community.
Old River Bed, Great Salt Lake Desert, Utah. Responsible for the paleoecological reconstruction of the Early Holocene history of the Bonneville Basin. Project sponsored by Far Western, Inc., Reno, Nevada.
Mollusks from China Lake, California. Responsible for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Late Pleistocene lacustrine system in the Navy Air Weapons Station. Project sponsored by Far Western, Inc., Davis California.
Laguna de los Pozuelos, Jujuy, Argentina. Paleoclimate history of a Late Pleistocene endorheic high altitude lake in the “Puna”. Project sponsored by USGS/Univ. Kentucky (Dr. Michael M. McGlue).
1996-2001/2009-2011.
Las Capas Paleoecology of Early Agricultural Period Canals, Tucson, Arizona. Responsible for the sampling of prehistoric and historic irrigation canals to reconstruct the history of canal irrigation during the Early Agricultural Period (1250 BC-AD 50) using micro-invertebrates, calcareous algae, and sedimentology. Project sponsored by Desert Archaeology, Inc., Tucson; under the supervision of James Vint.
2004-2007/2012-2014
Consultant and Adjunct Researcher at California State University- Bakersfield. During my participation in the Summer Science Program I lectured and trained high school, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as interested science teachers from the Kern County School District during each summer of this time interval. The team focused on the climate reconstruction of the San Joaquin Valley through the geological, geophysical, and paleontological signatures recorded in pluvial Lake Tulare. In addition, we continued research on Paleolake Chewacan (modern Summer Lake) in southern Oregon to identify the climate records of western North America.
2000-2004/2008-2012
Rio Nuevo Project, Tucson, Arizona. Consultant. Sedimentological and micropaleontological studies of historic and prehistoric irrigation systems of the archaeological sites west of I-10 in downtown Tucson for the construction of the Rio Nuevo Cultural Complex, west of downtown Tucson. Sponsored by the City of Tucson and Desert Archaeology, Inc., Tucson, Arizona.
2000-2012
Among other projects conducted in the Tucson Basin in the past twelve years are:
2010 Canal Paleohydraulics at the TUSD 9 Site AZ AA:16:570 (ASM) Using Sedimentary and Micro-Invertebrate Records. Tucson: TNESR Report 10-07, 13 pp. for Desert Archaeology, Inc., Tucson.
2009 Paleoecology of Irrigation Canals at the Rillito Fan (Site AZ AA:12:788 [ASM]) and Los Pozos sites (AZ AA:12:91/103 [ASM]), Pima County, Arizona. Tucson: TNESR Report 09-11, 18 pp. for Northland Research, Inc., Flagstaff.
2002 Ostracode Record at Leon Site (AZ BB:13:505 (ASM)), Tucson, Arizona. Tucson: TNESR Report 02-12, 19 pp. for Desert Archaeology, Inc., Tucson.