Christopher Barton, Ph.D., is a historical archaeologist, author, and educator whose work bridges rigorous material culture analysis with contemporary questions of race, class, and community agency. In the classroom, Barton emphasizes an inquiry-driven, critical seminar environment where students engage directly with primary sources, archaeological datasets, and modern social theory. He challenges students to evaluate how built environments and everyday objects reflect and reproduce broader societal structures, equipping them with the analytical, writing, and research skills necessary for graduate scholarship and professional careers.

Beyond his university teaching, Barton serves as an office principal and senior archaeologist in cultural resources management and has directed extensive archaeological investigations across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. His scholarship focuses on the historical archaeology of African American communities, 19th- and 20th-century institutional landscapes, and the material culture of childhood and labor. He is dedicated to community-engaged scholarship, collaborative heritage preservation, and bringing underrepresented histories to the forefront of historical and anthropological inquiry.

Education

Ph.D. in Anthropology (Historical Archaeology), Temple University

M.A. in Anthropology, Temple University

B.A. in Anthropology, Rowan University

Publications and Forthcoming Work

Books

• The Archaeology of Race and Class at Timbuctoo: A Black Community in New Jersey, University Press of Florida (2022).
• Trowels in the Trenches: Archaeology as Social Activism (Editor), University Press of Florida.

• Historical Racialized Toys in the United States (Co-Authored with Kyle Somerville), Routledge (2016).

Forthcoming and In Progress

• Toy Stories: Material Culture, Childhood, and Socialization in the United States. (Monograph in preparation).
• Dumps and Diners: An Archaeology of Sub-Urbanization in Southern New Jersey (Article in preparation).

Professional Associations and Certifications

• Register of Professional Archaeologists
• Society for Historical Archaeology
• Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology
• Society for American Archaeology
• State of New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility (Social Studies)

Honors and Awards

• John L. Cotter Award, Society for Historical Archaeology (2025)
• United States Senate Commendation for Service to the Community (2025)
• Faculty Award for Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion, Francis Marion University (2024)