Dr. Sofía Pacheco-Fores is a bioarchaeologist whose research focuses on migration in ancient Mexico. Using a range of methods including archaeological biogeochemistry and phenotypic variation in human skeletal and dental morphology, she reconstructs migration patterns to understand the experiences of past migrants and their recipient communities. She examines the role migration played in social and cultural change, including in ancient state formation, the spread of novel material culture complexes, the expression of social inequality, and eruptions of mass violence. She has on-going collaborative research projects in central Mexico, Oaxaca, and northwestern Mexico.
In addition to her research, Dr. Pacheco-Fores is involved in science education and outreach activities with the goal of fostering increased inclusion and diversity within anthropology. She is a Senior Editor at Anthro Illustrated, a collaborative project creating illustrations of anthropologists of diverse backgrounds at work. She also encourages increased representation and participation in anthropology through the Skype A Scientist program, speaking with bilingual K-12 students about anthropology and bioarchaeology.
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Find the paper discussed in this episode:
SI Pacheco-Fores, CT Morehart. 2024. Beyond “non-local”: biogeochemical and morphological approaches to examining diverse migrant experiences in Epiclassic central Mexico. Bioarchaeology International 8:104-122. https://doi.org/10.5744/bi.2022.0038
SI Pacheco-Fores, CT Morehart, JE Buikstra, GW Gordon, KJ Knudson. 2021. Migration, violence, and the “other”: a biogeochemical approach to identity-based violence in the Epiclassic Basin of Mexico. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 61: 101263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaa.2020.101263
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Contact Dr. Azcorra-Pérez: sipf@umn.edu
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