Affiliation: University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Dr. Ashley Lemke is an anthropologist, archaeologist, and Explorers Club Fellow. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Michigan. An expert on submerged ancient sites, she has received grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her books include Anthropological Archaeology Underwater (2024, Cambridge University Press) and The Architecture of Hunting (2022, Texas A&M University Press). She has directed research projects in North America and below its waters, including in the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean. She has conducted archaeological research in Europe in Germany, Spain, Romania, and Serbia. Lemke collaborates with Computer Scientists to explore applications of virtual worlds, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality for archaeological research and discovery. She previously taught at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Outstanding Teaching Award for Tenure Track Faculty, and was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Lemke is a past chair of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology. Ashley Lemke is a 2025/2026 National Lecturer.
The phrase “underwater archaeology” conjures notions of shipwrecks, ships lost at sea, and the dramatic catastrophes that sank them; however, the archaeology underwater can also reveal details about ancient landscapes that contain a record of past human occupations. Many of these sites are on the earth’s continental shelves where vast stretches of shallow, coastal lands were exposed at the end of the last Ice Age. These once dry landscapes supported life for plants, animals, and humans for thousands of years. Learn about these ancient submerged sites, the role they play in the global archaeological record and what unique data they have about the past. The talk will provide a general overview and the focus on 9,000 year old submerged sites in the North American Great Lakes.
How can we engage the next generation with archaeology? How can we bring ancient time periods and societies to life? As an underwater archaeologist researching submerged ancient sites, Dr. Lemke is familiar with the latest technology to explore deeper and further back in time – but how can you involve students and the public in these discoveries? Work with computer scientist has developed a virtual world of the ancient Great Lakes, where past environments, animals and archaeological sites can be investigated. You can enter this ancient world via virtual reality and better understand the past lifeways of people who lived there and hypothesize about where additional archaeological sites may be located. In addition, middle and high school students are often involved in building robots for competitions – but what if we took the robots out of the pool and used them for underwater archaeology? This talk will present case studies in bring VR and robotics to classrooms, museums, and beyond to introduce archaeology to a broader audience.
