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Kirk Costion, Ph.D.
Residential Faculty - Archaeology
Cultural Science, Philosophy & Religious Studies
Office: SC 14 - Room: SC 65
480-461-7058
Office Hours
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | |
Online | Online | Online | Online | |
| By appointment | By appointment | By appointment | By appointment | By appointment |
For office hours I can meet in person in my office or online using Webex Meetings, Zoom, Google Meet, or Cranium Cafe. To meet virtually you must schedule an appointment with me in advance, to meet in person you do not need to schedule ahead of time just stop by my office. To schedule a virtual meeting during reguarlly scheduled office hours or at other times please email Dr. Costion at [email protected]. My Webex Meetings "personal room" is one of the primary places where I can meet you for office hours. This room can be accessed using the following link: https://maricopa.webex.com/meet/kcostion
I will be on campus working in the archaeology lab on Friday afternoons. I may or may not be avialable to meet by appointment on Friday afternoons depending on how busy I am in the lab.
Profile
I am an Anthropology Faculty member specializing in anthropological archaeology and teach our archaeology courses. The most popular of these courses are our two Buried Cities & Lost Tribes classes (ASB 222 & ASB 223) which I teach every semester. I also teach our Archaeological Field Methods course (ASB 231) which involves hands-on field experience excavating at a local prehistoric archaeological site. Additionally, I regularly work with student volunteers analyzing the archaeological materials that were excavated at our field site. I went to graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh and my dissertation research took place in the Moquegua Valley of southern Peru focusing on the local small-scale village society known as the Huaracane. Specifically, I investigated Huaracane household and community organization and how the colonization of the Moquegua Valley during the early Middle Horizon impacted Huaracane culture. In the Andes my research interests include the variation and effects of colonial strategies in the periphery of expansive state societies and reactions by local populations. I am especially interested in how society-wide changes, such as colonization by an outside power impact community and household level organization. In recent years I have also been collaborating with a colleague on the development of graphic models to better analyze and understand ancient cross-cultural interactions. Locally in Arizona my research with our students at MCC has focused on refuse disposal patterns at an early transitional Classic Period Hohokam trash mound and what these patterns can tell us about household and domestic organization on the margins of one of the largest known Classic Period Hohokam settlements, Sche:dag Mu:val Va'aki (O'odham for Blue Fly's House) (formerly known as Mesa Grande).
Classes Taught
Fall 2025
| ASB222 | Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: Old World | 3 Credits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction to archaeology through discoveries and the researchers who made them. Emphasis on methods of archaeological fieldwork and what these discoveries reveal about humanity, including the nature of archaeological inquiry, the development of human social groups, the changing role of religion in evolving societies, the origins of agriculture, the origins of settled life ways, the rise of cities and complex societies, political strife across different cultures and the forces which tend to fragment societies. Examples drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. Prerequisites: None. |
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| General Education Designations: Global Awareness [G], Historical Awareness [H], Humanities, Fine Arts & Design [HU], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB] | ||||||
| Section | Location | Delivery | Dates | Days | Times | Availability |
22197 |
Dobson Campus |
In-Person
Lecture
|
08/25/2025 – 12/19/2025 |
MoWe |
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM |
Open 19 of 25 |
|
Notes: Low-Textbook-Cost Class: The total cost of the required materials for this course is $40 or less. |
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| ASB223 | Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: New World | 3 Credits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction to archaeology through discoveries and the researchers who made them. Emphasis on methods of archaeological fieldwork and what these discoveries reveal about humanity, including the nature of archaeological inquiry, the development of human social groups, the changing role of religion in evolving societies, the origins of agriculture, the origins of settled lifeways, the rise of cities and complex societies, political strife across different cultures and the forces which fragment societies. Examples drawn from North America, Central America, and South America. Prerequisites: None. |
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| General Education Designations: Global Awareness [G], Historical Awareness [H], Humanities, Fine Arts & Design [HU], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB] | ||||||
| Section | Location | Delivery | Dates | Days | Times | Availability |
23273 |
Dobson Campus |
In-Person
Lecture
|
08/26/2025 – 12/19/2025 |
TuTh |
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM |
Closed |
|
Notes: Honors Program Only |
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Fall Flex Start 2025
| ASB222 | Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: Old World | 3 Credits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction to archaeology through discoveries and the researchers who made them. Emphasis on methods of archaeological fieldwork and what these discoveries reveal about humanity, including the nature of archaeological inquiry, the development of human social groups, the changing role of religion in evolving societies, the origins of agriculture, the origins of settled life ways, the rise of cities and complex societies, political strife across different cultures and the forces which tend to fragment societies. Examples drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. Prerequisites: None. |
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| General Education Designations: Global Awareness [G], Historical Awareness [H], Humanities, Fine Arts & Design [HU], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB] | ||||||
| Section | Location | Delivery | Dates | Days | Times | Availability |
23274 |
Dobson Campus |
In-Person
Lecture
|
09/08/2025 – 12/19/2025 |
MoWe |
12:00 PM – 1:25 PM |
Open 17 of 25 |
|
Notes: Students may contact instructor at [email protected] |
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22190 |
Online Course |
Online (On Your Time)
Lecture
|
09/08/2025 – 12/19/2025 |
Open 9 of 25 |
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Notes: This is an Online class that does not meet at specific class times. Students are required to have access to a computer or mobile device, and Internet access, unless otherwise specified.
Before enrolling in their first online class at MCC, students need to view the online orientation and complete the readiness survey on https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information. |
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| ASB223 | Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: New World | 3 Credits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction to archaeology through discoveries and the researchers who made them. Emphasis on methods of archaeological fieldwork and what these discoveries reveal about humanity, including the nature of archaeological inquiry, the development of human social groups, the changing role of religion in evolving societies, the origins of agriculture, the origins of settled lifeways, the rise of cities and complex societies, political strife across different cultures and the forces which fragment societies. Examples drawn from North America, Central America, and South America. Prerequisites: None. |
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| General Education Designations: Global Awareness [G], Historical Awareness [H], Humanities, Fine Arts & Design [HU], Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB] | ||||||
| Section | Location | Delivery | Dates | Days | Times | Availability |
22193 |
Dobson Campus |
Hybrid In-Person
Lecture
|
09/09/2025 – 12/19/2025 |
TuTh |
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM |
Open 22 of 25 |
|
Notes: Hybrid classes include face-to-face format on campus at the time listed in the class schedule. The other part will be held online either without a set time to attend or a Live Online session. Students enrolling in a hybrid class acknowledge they already possess the skills described in the Minimum Computer and Technology Requirements at https://www.mesacc.edu/online/get-started for additional information. |
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| ASB298AA | Special Projects | 1 Credits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Organized and tailored around the interests and needs of the individual student. Structured to provide an atmosphere of individualized research and study paralleled by professional expertise and guidance. Professional-type facilities and equipment available for student use. Allows the best aspects of independent study and individualized learning to be combined to maximize student development. Prerequisites: Permission of Program Director or Instructor. |
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| Section | Location | Delivery | Dates | Days | Times | Availability |
23573 |
Dobson Campus |
Independent Study
Lab
|
09/12/2025 – 12/19/2025 |
Fr |
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
Open 8 of 8 |
|
Notes: Class 23573 Students may contact instructor at: [email protected] |
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Degrees & Awards
DEGREES:
-Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh, 2009.
-M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh, 2005.
-B.A. in Anthropology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, 2001.
GRANTS RECIEVED:
-Curtiss T. & Mary G. Brennan Foundation Grant for Archaeological Field Research in Andean South America & Early Mediterranean Civilizations, 2013.
-National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, 2006-2007.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
-Society for American Archaeology
-Institute of Andean Studies
-Arizona Archaeological Council
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