Anthropology Colloquium Series: Reverberations of a Vacuum
Reverberations of a Vacuum
Local Responses to a 14th century CE immigration event on the Georgia Coast, USA
What happens when entire societies migrate? Join us for a compelling exploration of one of the Southeast’s most dramatic archaeological turning points. In the late 1300s, Native peoples across the Midwest and Southeast withdrew from once-thriving political and ceremonial centers. Dr. Brandon Ritchison’s talk traces the aftermath of one such migration into the Georgia Coast, revealing how movement and upheaval gave rise to innovation and adaptation. Drawing on archaeological surveys and multiscalar settlement analysis, Dr. Ritchison shows how migrants and local coastal populations came together to forge new lifeways, identities, and social systems—transforming their shared environment through cooperation and resilience. This story offers a powerful reminder of the ways people throughout history have responded to uncertainty through collective action, cultural creativity, and reinvention.
Dr. Brandon Ritchison is an anthropological archaeologist focused on long-term human-environment dynamics, especially in the Southeastern U.S. His research spans 4,000 years of human activity, including projects across Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Centered on the centuries before European colonialism,
Dr. Ritchison investigates how migration, climate change, and shifting sociopolitical structures shaped ancient societies. His most recent work examines the 14th-century abandonment of the Savannah River Valley and its ripple effects on neighboring coastal communities. Through the analysis of settlement patterns, ceramic styles, and radiocarbon data, he is challenging older narratives and offering fresh insights into mobility and political change. Beyond the field, Dr. Ritchison mentors students, leads large-scale research teams, and contributes to national conversations on equity and ethics in archaeology.
About the Anthropology Colloquium Series at UAF
The Anthropology Colloquium Series is a vibrant platform for exploring the wide-ranging field of anthropology—from local Indigenous lifeways to global issues like migration, conflict, and identity. These free, public events connect students, faculty, and the community with leading thinkers and practitioners in archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and biological anthropology.