Diane Gifford-Gonzalez

Diane Gifford-Gonzalez is a Distinguished Research Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.14 She is a renowned archaeologist with expertise in zooarchaeology, African archaeology, and pastoralism.56

Gifford-Gonzalez received her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.24 She joined the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 1976 as one of the campus's first faculty members in archaeology and retired in 2015, though she remains active in research.3

Her research interests include:

1. Terminal Pleistocene and Holocene Africa
2. The emergence, spread, and adaptability of pastoralism
3. Holocene historical ecology
4. Zooarchaeology and taphonomy
5. Gender issues in prehistoric imagery5

Gifford-Gonzalez has made significant contributions to the field of anthropology, particularly in zooarchaeology and African archaeology.7 Her work has been widely cited, with notable publications on topics such as animal domestication in Africa, pastoralism, and zooarchaeological methods.1

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, Diane Gifford-Gonzalez was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2024.34