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VITAE
Craig E. Skinner
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Address: 1414 NW Polk, Corvallis, Oregon 97330
Phone: (541)754-7507
Fax: (541)754-7507
E-mail: cskinner@obsidianlab.com
Web: www.obsidianlab.com
EDUCATION
- Ph.D. Candidate, University of Oregon, Anthropology, 1986 - 1991
- M.S., University of Oregon, Anthropology (Archaeology), 1991
- M.S., University of Oregon, Interdisciplinary Studies (Archaeology, Geology, Geography), 1983
- Ed.M., Oregon State University, Counseling and Guidance, 1974
- B.S., Oregon State University, Anthropology, 1973
AREAS OF INTEREST
- Provenance Studies and the Geochemical Characterization of Archaeological and Geological Materials
- Obsidian Studies
- Volcanic Tephra Studies
- Archaeometric Methods
- Microcomputer Applications in Archaeology, Geology, and Geography
- Internet and World Wide Web Applications in Archaeology, Geology, and Geography
- Prehistory of the Far Western United States
- Geographic Information Systems
- Remote Sensing

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 1996-Present, Owner and Program Director, Obsidian Studies Laboratory, Northwest Research, Corvallis, Oregon.
- 1994-1996, Program Director, Obsidian Studies Laboratory, BioSystems Analysis, Inc., Santa Cruz, California. Responsible for program planning and management, coordination and management of laboratory personnel, data analysis, and technical writing.
- 1991-1994 Assistant Laboratory Director, INFOTEC Research, Inc., Eugene, Oregon.
Responsible for: coordination and management of special studies, laboratory personnel, and
archaeological materials relating to large-scale archaeological projects; technical writing; analysis of obsidian-related geochemical and hydration, special studies, and archaeometric data; graphical analysis of quantitative archaeological data; development of microcomputer hardware, software, and data management systems for archaeological applications.
1990-1991 Co-principal Investigator, Willamette National Forest Tephra Project.
Responsible for project management, field investigation, laboratory and data analysis, and
report production.
1987-1991 Geoarchaeology and IBM-PC Microcomputer Consulting, Northwest Research,
Corvallis, Oregon.
Previous work experiences include U.S. Postal Service (1983-1985), counseling coordinator in crisis clinic (1977-1978), part-time building construction (1972-1976), co-owner of a geodesic dome construction and consultation business (1971-1972), and co-owner of an arts and crafts retail business (1970-1971). Military: U. S. Army Air Defense Corps from 1968-1970; honorable discharge.
RELATED SKILLS
- World Wide Web page (HTML) programming and site development:
- Internet literate (since 1988)
- Technical report writing and production of complex documents>
- Graphical analysis of quantitative data
- Knowledge and practice in archaeometric methods (obsidian characterization, obsidian hydration, tephrochronology, radiocarbon dating, immunological analysis, and other archaeometric specialty areas)
- Geochemical analytical methods and sample preparation (XRF, INAA, AAS, EPMA)
- Scanning electron microscopy
- Photomicrography
- Thin section preparation
GRANTS RECEIVED
- 1991 Association for Oregon Archaeologists Annual Research Grant
- 1986-1990 U.S. Department of Energy Reactor Use-Sharing, Oregon State University, TRIGA Facility
- 1987 Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, University of Oregon, Geo-Anthropology Research Program
PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS, AND REPORTS
- Northwest Research and BioSystems Analysis Reports
- INFOTEC Research, Inc., Reports
- Eerkens, Jelmer, Jeffrey R. Ferguson, Michael D. Glascock, Craig E. Skinner, and Sharon Waechter. 2007. Reduction Strategies and Geochemical Characterization of Lithic Assemblages: A Comparison of Three Case Studies from Western North America. American Antiquity 72:585-597
- Boulanger, Matthew H., Thomas R. Jamison, Craig Skinner, and Michael D. Glascock. 2007. Analysis of an Obsidian Biface Reporttedly Found in the Connecticut River Valley of Vermont. Archaeology of Eastern North America 35:81-92.
- Speakman, Robert J., Michael D. Glascock, Robert H. Tykot, Christophe Descantes, Jennifer J. Thatcher, Craig E. Skinner, and Kyra M. Lienhop. 2007. Laser Ablation ICP-MS Characterization of Archaeological Materials for Provenance-Based Research. In Archaeological Chemistry: Analytical Techniques and Archaeological Interpretation, edited by Michael D. Glascock, Robert J. Speakman, and Rachel S. Popelka-Filcoff, pp. 275-296. American Chemical Society Symposium Series 968, Washington, D. C.
- Garfinkel, Alan P., Jeanne Day Binning, Craig E. Skinner, Alexander K. Rogers, Russell Kaldenberg, and Thomas Chapman. 2006. Obsidian Bifaces of the Eastern Sierra: The Portugese Bench and Cactus Flat Biface Cores. Society for California Archaeology Newsletter, 40(2):30-34.
- Ferguson, Jeffrey R. and Craig E. Skinner. 2005. Bone Cave: A Severely Disturbed Cave Site in Central Oregon. North American Archaeologist 26:221-244.
- Haarklau, Lynn, Lynn Johnson, David L. Wagner, Richard E. Hughes, Craig E. Skinner, Jennifer J. Thatcher, and Keith Myhrer. 2005. Fingerprints in the Great Basin: The Nellis Air Force Base Regional Sourcing Study. Report prepared for Nellis Air Force Base by Prewitt and Associates, Inc., Austin, Texas.
- Buchner, C. Andrew and Craig E. Skinner. No Date. An Obsidian Artifact from the La Plant I Site in the Cairo Lowland of Southeast Missouri. Manuscript submitted for publication in the Missouri Archaeological Society Quarterly, August, 2002.
- Skinner, Craig E., Jennifer J. Thatcher, Dennis L. Jenkins, and Albert C. Oetting. 2004. X-Rays, Artifacts, and Procurement Ranges: A Mid-Project Snapshot of Prehistoric Obsidian Procurement Patterns in the Fort Rock Basin of Oregon. In Early and Middle Holocene Archaeology of the Northern Great Basin, edited by Dennis L. Jenkins, Thomas J. Connolly, and C. Melvin Aikens, pp. 221-232. University of Oregon Anthropological Papers 62, Eugene, Oregon.
- Beck, Charlotte, George T. Jones, Dennis L. Jenkins, Craig E. Skinner, and Jennifer J. Thatcher. 2004. Fluted or Basally-Thinned? Re-Examination of a Lanceolate Point from the Connley Caves in the Fort Rock Basin. In Early and Middle Holocene Archaeology of the Northern Great Basin, edited by Dennis L. Jenkins, Thomas J. Connolly, and C. Melvin Aikens, pp. 281-294. University of Oregon Anthropological Papers 62, Eugene, Oregon.
- Garfinkel, Alan P., Jeanne Day Binning, Elva Younkin, Craig Skinner, Tom Origer, Rob Jackson, Jan Lawson and Tim Carpenter. 2004. The Little Lake Biface Cache, Inyo County, California. In Proceedings of the Society for California Archaeology 17:87-101.
- Ferguson, Jeffrey R. and Craig E. Skinner. 2003. Colorado Obsidian? Preliminary Results of a Statewide Database of Trace Element Analysis. Southwestern Lore 69(4):35-50.
- Barker, Alex W., Craig E. Skinner, M. Steven Shackley, Michael D. Glascock, and J. Daniel Rogers. 2002. Mesoamerican Origin for an Obsidian Scraper from the Precolumbian Southeastern United States. American Antiquity 67(1):103-108.
- Lyons, William H., Scott P. Thomas, and Craig E. Skinner. 2001. Changing Obsidian Sources at the Lost Dune and McCoy Creek Sites, Blitzen Valley, Southeast Oregon. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology 23(2):273-296.
- Rick, Torben C., Craig E. Skinner, Jon M. Erlandson, and Rene L. Vellanoweth. 2001. Obsidian Source Characterization and Human Exchange Systems on California's Channel Islands. Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly 37(3):27-44.
- Ambroz, Jessica A., Michael D. Glascock, and Craig E. Skinner. 2001. Chemical Differentiation of Obsidian Within the Glass Buttes Complex, Oregon. Journal of Archaeological Science 28(7):741-746.
- Connolly, Thomas J., Richard E. Hughes, and Craig E. Skinner. 1999. Geochemical Characterization of the Newberry Caldera Obsidian Flows. In Newberry Crater: A Ten-Thousand-Year Record of Human Occupation and Environmental Change in the Basin-Plateau Borderlands, by Thomas J. Connolly, pp. 151-156. University of Utah Anthropological Papers 121, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1999. Oregon Obsidian Source Inventory and Geochemical Survey: A Progress Report. Current Archaeological Happenings in Oregon 24(3):5-7.
- Skinner, Craig E., Ann C. Bennett-Rogers, and Jennifer J. Thatcher. 1999. Obsidian Studies of Two Possible Wealth Blade Fragments from the Upqua/Eden Site (35-DO-83), Central Oregon Coast: Results of X-Ray Fluorescence and Obsidian Hydration Analysis. Current Archaeological Happenings in Oregon 24(2):17-23.
- Johnson, Lynn, David L. Wagner, and Craig E. Skinner. 1999. Geochemistry of Archaeological Obsidian Sources in the Saline Range, Death Valley National Park, California. In Proceedings of Conference on Status of Geologic Research and Mapping in Death Valley National Park, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 4-11, 1999. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-153, pp.118-120.
- Lepper, Bradley T., Craig E. Skinner, Christopher M. Stevenson. 1998. Analysis of an Obsidian Biface Fragment from a Hopewell Occupation Associated with the Fort Hill (33HI1) Hilltop Enclosure in Southern Ohio. Archaeology of Eastern North America 26:33-39.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Ann C. Bennett-Rogers. 1997. The Geologic Source of an Obsidian Wealth Blade from the Whale Cove Site (35-LNC-60), Central Oregon Coast: Results of X-Ray Fluorescence Trace Element Analysis. Current Archaeological Happenings in Oregon 22(3):8-10.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Paul W. Baxter. 1997. Trace Element Characterization Studies of Obsidian from Sites 35-PO-15 and 35-PO-47, Willamette Valley, Western Oregon: An Archaeological Application of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. In Contributions to the Archaeology of Oregon: 1995-1996, edited by Albert C. Oetting. Association of Oregon Archaeologists Occasional Papers No.6, Eugene, Oregon, pp. 19-30.
- Ambroz, Jessica, Michael, D. Glascock, and Craig E. Skinner. 1996. Obsidian Sourcing and Hydration Studies at MURR (Abstract). Transactions of the American Nuclear Society 74.
- Connolly, Thomas J., Richard E. Hughes, and Craig E. Skinner. 1995. Chapter 11: Geochemical Characterization of the Newberry Caldera Obsidian Flows. In Human and Environmental Holocene Chronology in Newberry Crater, Central Oregon, by Thomas J. Connolly, pp. 233-240. Report prepared for the Oregon Department of Transportation, Salem, Oregon, by the State Museum of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1995. IAOS Obsidian Bibliography Hits Internet Hyperspace on the World Wide Web. International Association for Obsidian Studies Bulletin 13:2-3.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Carol J. Winkler. 1994. Trans-Cascade Prehistoric Procurement of Obsidian in Western Oregon: An Early Look at the Geochemical Evidence, in Contributions to the Archaeology of Oregon: 1989-1994, edited by Paul Baxter. Association for Oregon Archaeologists Occasional Papers No. 5, Eugene, Oregon, pp. 29-44.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Stefan C. Radosevich. 1994. The Geologic Source of the Mazama "Mimic" Mystery Tephra: A Geochemical Reassessment of Volcanic Tephra from Vine Rockshelter (35LA304), Central Western Cascades, Oregon. In Contributions to the Archaeology of Oregon: 1989-1994, edited by Paul Baxter. Association for Oregon Archaeologists Occasional Papers No. 5, Eugene, Oregon, pp. 16-27.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Kim J. Tremaine. 1993. Interdisciplinary Obsidian Bibliography. International Association for Obsidian Studies Occasional Paper No. 1, San Jose, California.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1993. Obsidian Sampling Survey, Oakridge Ranger District: Results of Initial Field Investigations. Report prepared for the Oakridge Ranger District, Willamette National Forest, Eugene, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1993. Obsidian Domes and Oregon Rock Art Chronologies . International Association for Obsidian Studies Bulletin 10:2.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1993. Obsidian Characterization Laboratory Survey Results. International Association for Obsidian Studies Bulletin 10:11-14.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1993. Obsidian Research and the Pipeline Expansion Project: A 1991
View from the Pipeline. International Association for Obsidian Studies Bulletin 8:3-6.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1993. Ternary: A Ternary Plotting Spreadsheet Template for Quattro Pro. Freeware developed for IBM PC-compatibles. [Available on the Internet at as TERNARY.ZIP in the SimTel Archive and mirror sites]
- Skinner, Craig E. 1993. Open Vertical Volcanic Conduits: A Preliminary Investigation of An Unusual Volcanic Cave Form With Examples from Newberry Volcano and the Central High Cascades of Oregon (A Special Session of the 39th Annual Convention of the National Speleological Society, Bend, Oregon, July30-August 1, 1982). In Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, pp. 7-17. International Speleological Foundation, Seattle, Washington.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1992. E-Mail and Obsidian Researchers: Staying in Touch in the Information Age. International Association for Obsidian Studies Bulletin 7:3-4.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1992. Digital Futures for Oregon Archaeologists: New Ways to Play With Your Data. Current Archaeological Happenings in Oregon 17(3):3-5.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Stefan C. Radosevich. 1991. Holocene Volcanic Tephra in the Willamette National Forest: Results of a Geochemical and Geoarchaeological Investigation. Current Archaeological Happenings in Oregon 16(4):6-11.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Stefan C. Radosevich. 1991. Holocene Volcanic Tephra in the Willamette National Forest, Western Oregon: Distribution, Geochemical Characterization, and Geoarchaeological Evaluation. Report prepared for the Willamette National Forest, Eugene, Oregon, by Northwest Research and Trans-World Geology. Eugene, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1991. Obsidian at Inman Creek: Geoarchaeological Investigations of An Unexpected Geologic Source of Obsidian in the Southwestern Willamette Valley, Oregon. Unpublished Master's Paper, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon. Eugene, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Carol J. Winkler. 1991. Trans-Cascade Prehistoric Procurement of Obsidian in Western Oregon: The Geochemical Evidence. Current Archaeological Happenings in Oregon 16(2):3-9.
- Skinner, Craig E., Jon Erlandson, Richard Hughes, Madonna Moss, and John Boughton. 1991. Trace Element Composition of Obsidian Artifacts from the Beaverdam Creek Site (35-CR-20), Central Oregon. Current Archaeological Happenings in Oregon 16(2):9-11.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Stefan C. Radosevich. 1991. Letter report dated March 8, 1991, to Madonna Moss, University of Oregon, describing results of electron microprobe analysis of volcanic tephra from the Beaverdam Site (35CR29), Central Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. and Stefan C. Radosevich. 1991. Letter report dated March 8, 1991, to Velma Lemco, U.S. Forest Service, describing the results of electron microprobe analysis of volcanic tephra from 35GR802, Grant County, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1987. Obsidian Procurement at the Umpqua/Eden Site (35DO83), Central Oregon Coast: Preliminary Research Results. Unpublished manuscript on file at the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology, Eugene, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1986. The Occurrence, Characterization, and Prehistoric Utilization of Geologic Sources of Obsidian in Central Western Oregon: Preliminary Research Results. Unpublished manuscript on file at the Oregon State Museum of Anthropology. Eugene, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1983. Obsidian Studies in Oregon: An Introduction to Obsidian and An Investigation of Selected Methods of Obsidian Characterization Utilizing Obsidian Collected at Prehistoric Quarry Sites in Oregon. Master's Project, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Oregon. Eugene, Oregon.
- Skinner, Craig E. 1983. Geological and Archaeological Investigations of the Lava Top Butte Vicinity, Deschutes County, Oregon. Western Speleological Society Bulletin. Vancouver, Washington.
PAPERS AND POSTERS PRESENTED
- Lithic Sourcing in the BC Interior. Paper presented at the 59th Annual Northwest Anthropological Conference, Victoria, British Columbia, April 23-26, 2008. Co-Authors: Brian Pegg, Cameron Robertson, and David Pokotylo.
- A View of Northern Great Basin Prehistory Through the Volcanic Glass Window. Paper presented at the 57th Annual Northwest Anthropological Conference, March 29-April 1, 2006, Seattle, Washington. Co-Author: Dennis Jenkins.
- INNA Examination of Flake Size Bias in XRF Studies. Poster presented at the 70th Annual Meetings of the Society for American Archaeology, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 30-April 3, 2005. Co-Authors: Ferguson, Jeffrey R., Jelmer W. Eerkens, and Michael D. Glascock.
- Laser Ablation ICP-MS Characterization of Archaeological Materials for Provenance-Based Research. Paper presented at The Inaugural Symposium of the Archaeological Sciences of America Meeting, Tucson, AZ, Sept 2004. Co-Authors: Speakman, R. J., M. D. Glascock, C. H. Descantes, R. H. Tykot, J. J. Thatcher, K. M. Lienhop, and B. J. Higgins.
- Establishing an Origin for Clay Features at the Tseriadun Site (35-CU-7), Southern Oregon Coast. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Northwest Anthropological Conference, March 25-27, 2004, Eugene, Oregon. Co-Authors: Loren G. Davis, R. Scott Byram, and Frederick C. Anderson.
- The Social Dimension of Obsidian in the Portland Basin. Paper presented at the 55th Annual Northwest Anthropological Conference, March 25-27, 2004, Eugene, Oregon. Co-Author: David Ellis.
- Chemical Differentiation of Obsidian Within the Newberry Volcanic Complex by Laser Ablation ICP-MS,INAA, AND XRF. Paper presented at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, October 27-30, 2002. Co-Authors: Robert J. Speakman and Michael D. Glascock.
- Bulldozing for Bifaces: Production, Procurement, and Provenance Analysis of an Obsidian Biface Cache from the Central Cascades of Oregon. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology Annual Meeting, 2002, Denver, Colorado. Co-authors: Ann C. Bennett and Jennifer Thatcher.
- Return to a Jack Rabbit Roasting Site (35HA3055) in Southeastern Oregon: The Obsidian Sourcing and Hydration Evidence. Paper presented at the 55th Northwest Anthropological Conference, Boise, Idaho, 2002. Co-Authors: Scott Thomas, Patrick O'Grady, and Jennifer Thatcher.
- A Comparison of Obsidian Analyses by Multiple Techniques: Determining Meaningful Levels of Resolution for Central Mediterranean Provenance Studies. Poster presented at the 32nd International Symposium on Archaeometry, Mexico City, Mexico, May, 2000. Co-authors: Robert H. Tykot and Michael D. Glascock
- Obsidian Characterization and Hydration Results of the Fort Rock Basin Prehistory Project, Oregon
. Paper presented at the 52nd Northwest Anthropological Conference, Newport, Oregon, 1999. Co-authors: Dennis L. Jenkins, Jennifer J. Thatcher, and Keenan Hoar.
A Preliminary Report from the Malheur National Forest Obsidian Characterization Project: Insights on Prehistoric Use of Strawberry Mountain Obsidian. Paper presented at the 16th Annual Great Basin Anthropological Conference, Bend, Oregon, 1998. Co-authors: Donald A. Rotell and Don Hann.
Geochemical Characterization and Correlation of Artifact and Source Obsidian, North Cascades National Park, Washington. Presented at the 50th Northwest Anthropological Conference, Ellensburg, Washington, 1997. Co-author: Robert R. Mierendorf.
Obsidian Research in the Newberry Volcano Region of Central Oregon, Part 1: The Sources. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Oregon Archaeologists, Bend, Oregon, 1994.
Spatial Patterns of Obsidian Use in Central Oregon: An Early View from the Trenches. Presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Anaheim, California, 1994. Co-author: Richard E. Hughes.
Obsidian Hydration Studies in Central Oregon: The Results of the First Cut. Presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Anaheim, California, 1994. Co-author: Richard M. Pettigrew.
Mazama 'Mimic' Mystery Solved: A Geochemical Reassessment of the Volcanic Tephra from Vine Rockshelter. Presented at 43rd Annual Northwest Anthropological Conference, Eugene, Oregon, 1990. Co-author: Stefan C. Radosevich.
Open Vertical Volcanic Conduits: The Structure and Speleogenesis of an Unusual Volcanic Cave Form With Examples from the Oregon High Cascades. Presented at the Third International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, Bend, Oregon, 1982.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Association for Oregon Archaeologists
- Colorado Archaeological Society
- Idaho Archaeological Society
- International Association for Obsidian Studies (President, 1992-1993; Webmaster, 1995-Present)
- New Zealand Archaeological Association
- Plains Anthropological Society
- Society for American Archaeology
- Society for California Archaeology
- Society for Archaeological Science

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