Investigators Steven Kuehn

Steven Kuehn (M.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is an archaeologist and zooarchaeologist at the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to becoming a full-time Faunal Analyst with ISAS in 2006, he worked primarily in Wisconsin and has conducted field investigations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Colorado, and Alaska. While his primary focus is faunal analysis, Steve has directed numerous Phase I, II, and III field investigations and lab analyses, and authored over 150 technical reports.

Steve’s primary focus is zooarchaeology, studying faunal exploitation and subsistence patterns across the Midwest and Eastern Woodlands. He has analyzed numerous prehistoric and historic faunal assemblages from sites in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, and Alaska. Much of his current research centers on the Late Prehistoric period (Late Woodland through Mississippian) in the Midwest, examining changes in faunal exploitation patterns over time, the role of domestic dogs in Native American communities, shifts in animal procurement strategies during periods of interregional stress, and the ritual use of faunal remains. Other projects underway include an on-going study of Paleoindian subsistence patterns and ritual in the Upper Midwest, analysis of an Early Archaic bison kill in the northeastern Great Plains, and a re-examination of Grand River Oneota subsistence and settlement in east-central Wisconsin. Steve enjoys outreach activities, and regularly gives talks on zooarchaeology and ancient life. In his free time, Steve writes archaeology mystery fiction, with his first novel (Sunken Dreams) to be published in 2016.