Profile
Dr. William J. Parry is a professor in the Department of Anthropology. He has taught anthropology at Hunter since 1988, and currently teaches classes in prehistoric, Mesoamerican and North American archaeology.
Being an archaeologist, Dr. Parry investigates past human lifeways, particularly those of indigenous peoples of the United States and Mexico. His analytical specialty is the study of lithic artifacts (chipped stone tools). He studied stone tools in various cultural contexts, ranging from the technologies of highly mobile foragers to the products of craft specialists in ancient urban centers.
He is also interested in the colonial archaeology and history of the New York City area, and serves as an Emeritus Member of the board of directors of the Old Stone House of Brooklyn. He is currently researching the pioneering excavations of Reginald Pelham Bolton and William L. Calver in Manhattan (1904-1918).
Dr. Parry's article from 1987, “Expedient Core Technology,” had a great impact on his specialized field of analysis, being cited more than 500 times. He has also participated in archaeological field research in Pennsylvania (Delaware and Susquehanna Valleys), Michigan, New Mexico (Garnsey site, Roswell), Arizona (Black Mesa), Philippines (Negros Island), Oaxaca (San Jose Mogote), Peru (Norte Chico) and the Teotihuacan Valley of Mexico (including many years of work at the Aztec site of Otumba and the Classic city of Teotihuacan).
As a teacher and researcher, Dr. Parry is motivated by uncovering things that have been hidden and forgotten for thousands of years, and more importantly, trying to answer questions about the past and why things are the way they are today.
Dr. Parry received his PhD in anthropology in 1983 from the University of Michigan.