10/23/2025
Today’s Q&A is with Matt Gage, Director, Office of Archaeological Research at the University of Alabama.
Q: What is your educational background?
A: I have a BA from the University of New Hampshire, MA from the University of Alabama, and a PhD from the University of Tennessee.
Q: What are your primary research interests?
A: Southeastern Precontact, paleoclimatology, and Late Archaic settlement patterns.
Q: What motivated you to become an archaeologist, or how did you become an archaeologist?
A: I have always loved history and the stories that we learn from the things left behind by our ancestors. I grew up in a place that had been in my family since 1789 and was surrounded by stories of the past. That opened my mind to learning more about who came before us, how they lived, and what was their world like. I continue to get excited by archaeology every day with each new project and the discoveries we make.
Q: Who was your most influential mentor? How did they influence your work?
A: I have been incredibly lucky and have had multiple mentors who influenced my career. The list starts with a high school teacher who pushed my interest in history into archaeology. When I attended college I met a professor from Slidell, Louisiana teaching at the University of New Hampshire who got me interested in Southeastern archaeology. I moved to Alabama to work for Vernon James Knight at The University of Alabama at Moundville and he taught me how to look at archaeological sites critically and honestly. I then went to work for Carey Oakley and Eugene Futato at the Office of Archaeological Research. Carey taught me how important it was to relate to people and Eugene was the best sound board anyone could ever have. He knew more about the width and breadth of Southeastern archaeology from Paleoindian to antebellum than any archaeologist I have ever met, and he looked at things logically and in a broader context of anthropological theory. For my doctorate I worked with Jan Simek, Dave Anderson, Kandace Hollenbach, and Sarah Sheerwood. Each one of them influenced my understanding of archaeology, how to approach research questions, and how to formulate a means to interpret the data. I owe all of these folks a huge debt.
Q: How do you feel about the Hollywood and/or reality tv portrayal of archaeology?
A: Hollywood’s portrayal of archaeology is just that, Hollywood. I think most people recognize the difference between reality and the fantasy they create. Reality TV is another story. Programming that glorify conspiracy theories, like archaeologists are hiding the truth from the world or aliens are responsible for creating these sites erode the truth and delegitimize the incredible feats that people have accomplished. The real stories are so amazing, why come up with garbage that spreads untruths? The History Channel and National Geographic, in particular, have really disappointed me. Both started as reliable sources of information that helped people appreciate the stories behind archaeological sites and cultures. Today, they espouse false information for clicks on their websites. We see the effects of that every day when people (students in particular) ask us crazy questions about something they saw on a webpage, or a YouTube video, or social media. The real story is just as amazing as the fantasy, and I wish people would focus on the incredible ingenuity and abilities of our ancestors.
