David Byers
Anthropology | Archaeology
Associate Professor
![David Byers](/anthropology/images/faculty/byers_david.jpg)
Contact Information
Office Location: Logan (MAIN 245C)Phone: +1 435 797 1178
Email: david.byers@usu.edu
Educational Background
PhD, Anthropology, (Zooarchaeology), University of Utah, 2006 Dissertation
Holocene Environmental Change, Artiodactyl Population Histories and Large Game Hunting in Western North America.
Teaching Interests
Courses Taught: ANTH 2330 Principles of Archaeology, ANTH 5320 Zooarchaeology, ANTH 6350 Archaeological Theory
Research Interests
Zooarchaeology, site formation, stable isotope analysis, upland/alpine archaeology of Western U.S., coastal foragers of Jamaica, Paleoecology, Paleoindian studies, and Human/Proboscidean interaction.
- Ugan, A.J, Coltrain, J., Byers, D.A, (2010). Variación de δ13C y δ15N en Liebres (Lepus californicus) del Desierto y Precordillera de la Gran Cuenca Oriental: Implicaciones en la Dieta y Paleoclima: Zooarqueología a Principios del Siglo XXI: Aportes Teóricos, Metodológicos y Casos de Estudio.
- Byers, D.A, (2009). The Hell Gap Site Locality II: History of Excavations and Bone Modifications to the Agate Basin Component Faunal Remains: The Hell Gap Site: A Stratified Paleoindian Campsite on the Edge of the Rockies. University of Utah Press
- Byers, D.A, Ugan, A.J, (2009). Should We Expect Large Game Specialization in the Late Pleistocene? An Optimal Foraging Perspective on Early Paleoindian Prey Choice: Evolutionary Ecology and Archaeology: Applications and Problems in Human Evolution and Prehistory. University of Utah Press
- Byers, D.A, (2003). Investigations in the Bridger Mountain Range, Montana: A Backyard Archaeology Project: Islands in the Plains. University of Utah Press
Publications | Book Chapters
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- Henrikson, S., Byers, D., Yohe, R., Titmus, G., DeCarlo, M., (2017). Folsom Mammoth Hunters? The Terminal Pleistocene Assembalge from Owl Cave (10BV30), Wasden Site, Idaho. American Antiquity, 83, 574-592. doi: 10.1017/aaq.2017.14
- Byers, D., Henrikson, S., Breslawski, R., (2016). Holocene Cold Storage Practices in the Eastern Snake River Plain: A Risk-Mitigation Strategy for Lean Times. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 43, 56-68.
- Byers, D.A, Hargiss, E., Finley, J.B, (2015). Flake Morphology, Fluvial Dynamics, and Debitage Transport Potential. Geoarchaeology: An International Journal, 30, 379-392.
- Breslawski, R., Byers, D.A, (2015). Assessing Measurement Error in Paleofaunal Biometry with Bison Remains. Journal of Archaeological Science, 53, 235-242.
- Breslawski, R., Byers, D.A, (2015). Skeletal Fat, Processing Intensity, and the Late Holocene Bison from Baker Cave, Southern Idaho. . American Antiquity, 80, 184-192.
- Byers, D.A, Picka, C., Ray, J., (2014). Heat Treatment, Ozarks Cherts and Prehistoric Toolstone Use in Southwest Missouri. American Antiquity, 79, 507-521.
- Breslawski, R., Byers, D.A, (2014). Holocene bison diminution on the Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA. The Holocene, 24, 864-875.
- Byers, D.A, (2013). The Dawson Site: A Paleoindian Camp in the San Rafael Desert. Utah Archaeologist, 25, 1-14.
- Byers, D.A, (2011). Faunal Assemblage. In The Horsethief Site and Upper Republican Adaptation along the Edge of the High Plains. The Kansas Anthropologist, 31, 93-108.
- Broughton, J., Cannon, M., Bayham, F., Byers, D.A, (2011). Prey Body Size and Ranking in Zooarchaeology: Theory, Empirical Evidence, and Applications from the Northeastern Great Basin. American Antiquity, 76, 403-428.
- Nogue's-Bravo, D., Lorenzon, E.D, Orlando, L., Weinstock, J., Binladen, J., Marske, K.A, Ugan, A., Borregaard, M.K, Gilbert, M.T, Nielsen, R., Ho, S.Y, Goebel, T., Graf, K.E, Byers, D.A, Stenderup, J.T, Rasmussen, M., Campos, P.F, Leonard, J.A, Koepfli, K., Froese, D., Zazula, G., Stafford, Jr., T.W, Aaris-Sorensen, K., Batra, P., Haywood, A.M, Singarayer, J.S, Valdes, P.J, Boeskorov, G., Burns, J.A, Davydov, S.P, Haile, J., Jenkins, D.L, Kosintsev, P., Kuznetsova, T., Lai, X., Martin, L.D, McDonald, H.G, Mol, D., Meldgaard, M., Munch, K., Stephan, E., Sablin, M., Sommer, R.S, Sipko, T., Scott, E., Suchard, M.A, Tikhonov, A., Willerslev, R., Wayne, R.K, Cooper, A., Hofreiter, M., Sher, A., Shapiro, B., Rahbek, C., E., (2011). Species-Specific Responses of Late Quaternary Megafauna to Climate and Humans. Nature, 479, 359-364.
- Byers, D.A, Yesner, D., Broughton, J., Coltrain, J., (2011). Stable Isotope Chemistry, Population Histories and Late Prehistoric Subsistence Change in the Aleutian Islands. Journal of Archaeological Science, 38, 183-196.
- Byers, D.A, Hill, B., (2009). Pronghorn Dental Age Profiles and Holocene Hunting Strategies at Hogup Cave, Utah. American Antiquity,, 74, 299-322.
- Ugan, A., Byers, D.A, (2008). A Global Perspective on the Spatiotemporal Pattern of the Late Pleistocene Human and Woolly Mammoth Radiocarbon Record. Quaternary International, 191, 69-81.
- Broughton, J., Byers, D.A, Bryson, R.A, Eckerle, W., Madsen, R.B, (2008). Did Climatic Seasonality Control Late Quaternary Artiodactyl Densities in Western North America?. Quaternary Science Review, 27, 1916-1937.
- Smith, C.D, Byers, D.A, Craven, C., (2008). Holocene Bison Procurement and Processing in the Wyoming Basin: The View from the Graham Ranch Site. Plains Anthropologist, 53, 313-322.
- Byers, D.A, Smith, C., (2007). Ecosystem Controls and the Archaeofaunal Record: An Example from the Wyoming Basin, USA. The Holocene, 17, 1171-1183.
- Ugan, A., Byers, D.A, (2007). Geotemporal Trends in Proboscidean and Human Population Histories during the Late Pleistocene. Quaternary Science Reviews, 26, 3058-3080.
- Kelly, R.L, Byers, D.A, Eckerle, W., Goldberg, P., Haynes, C.V, Larsen, R.M, Laughin, J., Mead, J., Wall, S., (2006). Multiple Approaches to Formation Processes: The Pine Spring Site, Southwest Wyoming. Geoarchaeology, 21, 615-638.
- Byers, D.A, Smith, C., Broughton, J.M, (2005). Holocene Artiodactyl Population Histories and Large Game Hunting in the Wyoming Basin, USA. Journal of Archaeological Science, 32, 125-142.
- Byers, D.A, Ugan, A., (2005). Should We Expect Large Game Specialization in the Late Pleistocene? An Optimal Foraging Perspective on Early Paleoindian Prey Choice. Journal of Archaeological Science,, 32, 1624-1640.
- Byers, D.A, Broughton, J., (2004). Holocene Environmental Change, Artiodactyl Abundances, and Human Hunting Strategies in the Great Basin. American Antiquity,, 69, 251- 271.
- Byers, D.A, (2002). Paleoindian Fat-Seeking Behavior: Evidence from the Hell Gap Site, Locality II Agate Basin Faunal Assemblage. Plains Anthropologist, 47, 389-378.
- Byers, D.A, (2002). Taphonomic Analysis, Associational Integrity, and Depositional History of the Fetterman Mammoth, Eastern Wyoming, U.S.A. Geoarchaeology, 17, 417- 440.
Public or Trade Journal
- Byers, D., (2016). Soft-Shelled Helmets of the U.S. Air Service. Windsock , 32:4, 28. *
- Byers, D., (2016). The Imperial German Safety Helmet. Windsock Worldwide, 32:3, 28. *
- Byers, D., (2016). The Western Electric 1-A Flying Helmet. Windsock Worldwide, 32:2, 24. *
- Byers, D., (2016). The Roold Pilot's Helmet. Windsock Worldwide, 32 :1, 13. *
- Byers, D., (2015). An Early Aviator's Safety Helmet. Windsock Worldwide, 31:Winter *
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Technical Reports
Other Reports
- Larsen, A., Larsen, K., Byers, D., (2014). Archaeological Investigations in Lake Channel Idaho. BLM *
- Byers, D.A, Ideker, C., (2014). Excavations at 24CB168, A Sheep Processing Camp In the Pryor Mountains, Montana. *
- Byers, D.A, (2012). Missouri State University Pryor Mountains Archaeological Project: Report on Summer 2012 Pedestrian Survey. United States Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest
- Byers, D.A, Hill, B., Kester, L., Larsen, B., Mittanck, C., Smith, C., (2009). Surface Collection and Test Excavations at the Dawson Site (Site 42EM3695) Emery County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2009). The Site 14HO308 Faunal Assemblage.
- Byers, D.A, Jones, A.H, Cotter, C., Edwards, G., (2009). 2009 Missouri State University Field School Archaeological Investigations at Terrell Creek, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Williams Pipeline Boise District 2007 Pipeline Maintenance Project, Ada, Elmore, Gem and Owyhee Counties, Idaho. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Williams Pipeline Pocatello District 2007 Lava Hot Springs – Pocatello Facilities Integrity Management Project, Power and Bannock Counties, Idaho. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of Lexam Exploration Inc. Baca #5, Baca #5 Alt and Baca #6 Wellpads and Access Roads, Saguache County, Colorado. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Bison Creek Ranch Wetlands, Weber County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Proposed Devon Energy Production Company Bairoil to Beaver Creek CO2 Pipeline Metering Station, Fremont County, Wyoming. *
- Byers, D.A, Smith, C., (2007). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration Fort Pearce Wash Parcel, Washington County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the West Coyote Creek Parcel, San Juan County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Cultural Resource Inventory for the Proposed Armstrong Consultants, Inc. Alamo Landing Field in Lincoln County, Nevada. *
- Byers, D.A, Nelson, Z., (2007). A Cultural Resource Inventory for the Proposed Centerpoint Energy Gas Transmission Company Tontitown Project Natural Gas Pipeline in Logan and Franklin Counties, Arkansas. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Cultural Resource Inventory for the Williams Gas Pipeline Boise District 2007 Cathodic Protection and Recoats Sites Project, Baker and Malheur Counties, Oregon, and Gem, Ada, Elmore and Owyhee Counties, Idaho. *
- Byers, D.A, (2007). A Cultural Resource Inventory for the Williams Pipeline Pocatello District 2007 Pipeline Maintenance Project, Elmore County, Idaho. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Orin Subdivision Railroad Track Expansion (Mile Post 0 to Mile Post 15), Campbell County, Wyoming. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Orin Subdivision Railroad Track Expansion (Mile Post 15 to Mile Post 40), Campbell County, Wyoming. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Qwest Nugget Canyon Buried Cable, Lincoln County, Wyoming. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory for the Williams Gas Pipeline Vernal District 2006 Coral Meter Station and Feeder Line, Uintah County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Rock Canyon Road, Utah County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Sanpete County Jail Parcel, Sanpete County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Silver Lake PDU Project, Salt Lake County, Utah.
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Utah State Institutional Trust Lands Administration East Steinaker Parcel, Uintah County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). A Class III Cultural Resources Inventory for the Williams Pipeline Boise District 2006 Recoat and Cathodic Protection System and Facilities on Idaho BLM Lands. *
- Byers, D.A, (2006). Site 48SW6965, The Prickly Pear Site. In The Archaeology along the Muddy Creek Loop, Williams Pipeline Expansion Project, Lincoln and Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming, edited by C. Smith and D. Byers. *
- Byers, D.A, (2005). A Class III Cultural Resource Inventory of the Dawson North Moon Ridge 3-D Seismic Project, Uintah County, Utah. *
- Byers, D.A, Gavin, J., (1998). Test Excavations at Agate Spring: 1998 Gallatin National Forest Cultural Resources Year-End Report, edited by W. Allen. *
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
Newsletter
- Breslawski, R., Byers, D.A, (2014). Baker Caves I and III Revisited: Big Game Hunting and Bison Diminution in Southern Idaho. Newsletter of the Idaho. Professional Archaeological Council *
Other
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Teaching
ANTH 6360 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, Fall 2023
ANTH 5420, 6420 - Lithic Analysis, Spring 2023
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2023
ANTH 6350 - Archaeological Theory, Fall 2022
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2022
ANTH 5320, 6320 - Zooarchaeology, Spring 2022
ANTH 6360 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, Fall 2021
ANTH 5420, 6420 - Lithic Analysis, Spring 2021
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2021
ANTH 1030 - World Archaeology, Spring 2021
ANTH 6350 - Archaeological Theory, Fall 2020
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2020
ANTH 5320, 6320 - Zooarchaeology, Spring 2020
ANTH 6700 - Archaeology Internship, Fall 2019
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Fall 2019
ANTH 1030 - World Archaeology, Fall 2019
ANTH 5300 - Archaeology Field School, Summer 2019
ANTH 6700 - Archaeology Internship, Spring 2019
ANTH 6900 - Independent Studies, Spring 2019
ANTH 5420, 6420 - Lithic Analysis, Spring 2019
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2019
, Fall 2018
ANTH 6350 - Archaeological Theory, Fall 2018
HONR 4900 - Honors Thesis/Capstone, Spring 2018
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2018
ANTH 5320, 6320 - Zooarchaeology, Spring 2018
ANTH 6370 - GIS in Archaeology, Fall 2017
ANTH 4800 - Topics in Anthropology, Fall 2017
ANTH 5300 - Archaeology Field School, Summer 2017
ANTH 5300 - Archaeology Field School, Spring 2017
ANTH 4800, 6950 - Archaeology Special Topics/Seminar, Spring 2017
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2017
ANTH 6350 - Archaeological Theory, Fall 2016
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Spring 2016
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2016
ANTH 5320, 6320 - Zooarchaeology, Spring 2016
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Fall 2015
ANTH 5420, 6420 - Lithic Analysis, Fall 2015
ANTH 5300 - Archaeology Field School, Summer 2015
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Spring 2015
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2015
ANTH 5320,6320 - Zooarchaeology, Spring 2015
ANTH 6350 - Archaeological Theory, Fall 2014
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Fall 2014
ANTH 5420,6420 - Lithic Analysis, Fall 2014
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Spring 2014
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2014
ANTH 5320,6320 - Zooarchaeology, Spring 2014
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Fall 2013
ANTH 6360 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, Fall 2013
ANTH 1030 - World Archaeology, Fall 2013
ANTH 5300 - Archaeology Field School, Summer 2013
ANTH 5310 - Archaeology Laboratory, Spring 2013
ANTH 2330 - Principles of Archaeology, Spring 2013
ANTH 5320,6320 - Zooarchaeology, Spring 2013
Zooarchaeology in Jamaica, Spring 2013
ANTH 6350 - Archaeological Theory, Fall 2012
Graduate Students Mentored
Quinn Eury, Sociology and Anthropology, January 2024
Mindona Grunin, Sociology and Anthropology, January 2023
Amanda Meeks, Sociology and Anthropology, November 2021
Ryan McGrath, Sociology and Anthropology, January 2021
Theresa Popp, Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology, August 2020
Ryan McGrath, Sociology and Anthropology, January 2019
Andrew Owens, Sociology and Anthropology, January 2016 - March 2022
Diana Azevedo, Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology, August 2012 - May 2015
Ryan Breslawski, Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology - May 2014
Abby Lafevers, 2011
Cathy Howard, 2011
Rick Rogers, 2011
Aaron Geary, 2011
Craig Picka, 2011
Elise Hargiss, 2011
Abraham Ledezma, 2010