Research Staff

Matthew Betts

Dr. Betts’ technical specialty is zooarchaeology, the study of animal remains from archaeological sites. His current research focuses on maritime hunter-gatherers and their complex economic, ideological and social relationships with the animals they exploited. With colleagues from Idaho State University, he has developed a virtual faunal reference collection, VZAP, which provides high-resolution 2D and 3D images of northern vertebrate skeletons. He also recently curated the award-winning exhibit, Tombs of Eternity.

Dr. Betts has published on a range of topics, including dating methods, historical archaeology, archaeological method and theory, and hunter-gatherer subsistence. In addition, he is responsible for maintaining the Canadian Archaeological Radiocarbon Database (CARD); currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of World Prehistory; he is also is adjunct professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of New Brunswick.  

Born and raised in Atlantic Canada, Dr. Betts received a Master’s of Science degree and a PhD from the University of Toronto. Before joining the Museum’s staff, he held research and teaching positions at Idaho State University and the University of Toronto.

Dr. Betts is digging in Port Joli, Nova Scotia this summer.  Check out his blog to get the real dirt!

Contact:
tel: (819) 776-8419
Matthew.Betts@civilization.ca