Lindsay Martel Montgomery, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, has co-authored an influential new study that deepens our understanding of Indigenous histories through a unique blend of archaeological analysis and community knowledge.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / August 20, 2025 / Lindsay Martel Montgomery, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, has co-authored an influential new study that deepens our understanding of Indigenous histories through a unique blend of archaeological analysis and community knowledge. This research, published with long-time collaborator Melanie Cootsona in the Journal of Social Archaeology, highlights centuries of human-avian relationships at Picuris Pueblo in northern New Mexico, placing Indigenous oral histories at the heart of archaeological interpretation.
The study challenges the sidelining of Indigenous ways of understanding relationships between humans, animals, and landscapes and long-standing assumptions in zooarchaeology that separate "wild" from "domestic" animals often. Lindsay Martel Montgomery and Cootsona address this by integrating traditional knowledge and personal narratives from Picuris Pueblo tribal members with material evidence from the old pueblo, producing a more holistic and culturally grounded history.
Developing a Gifting Approach
At the center of this research is a "gifting" framework. Drawing from oral histories, the framework emphasizes care, reciprocity, and respect in understanding human-avian relationships. This approach not only sheds new light on avian faunal materials, such as turkey remains, but also recognizes the cultural values and responsibilities embedded in these relationships.
The archaeological evidence studied dates between 1300 and 1800 CE, a period during which ancestral Picuris people developed an intensive and sophisticated agricultural landscape. The findings show that turkeys were not merely economic resources but partners in a network of reciprocal relationships with plants, water systems, and the broader northern Rio Grande landscape.
According to Lindsay Martel Montgomery, multi-dimension approach taken in the article opens up new pathways for engaging communities and working with legacy archaeological collections. "By centering oral histories alongside archaeological data, we are not just adding Indigenous perspectives to existing narratives. We are reframing the entire process of interpretation so that the community's knowledge and values guide the questions and shape the conclusions."
Collaborating with Picuris Pueblo
This collaborative project is built on years of relationship-building and trust with Picuris Pueblo. Community members shared oral histories and personal narratives that connect present-day cultural practices with centuries-old traditions. This collaboration ensured that interpretations remained accountable to the Pueblo's values and perspectives.
Rather than treating this archaeological collection as abstract objects of study, the project recognized it as part of a living landscape with ongoing cultural significance. This approach aligns with broader movements in Indigenous archaeology, which seek to replace extractive models with methods grounded in partnership and shared authority.
Challenging the Nature-Culture Divide
In traditional Western archaeology, animals have often been categorized as either "wild" or "domestic," reinforcing a rigid nature-culture binary. This binary overlooks the ways Indigenous communities have long interacted with animals in ways that do not fit neatly into those categories.
The gifting framework proposed by Lindsay Martel Montgomery and Cootsonar offers a more nuanced interpretation. Turkeys, for example, were not solely raised for food or feather harvesting but were part of a relational network where care for the animals reflected broader responsibilities to the land and community.
The research builds on critiques from BIPOC scholars and archaeologists working within posthumanist and object-oriented approaches, who have called for dismantling the limitations of Western ontology and epistemology in archaeological practice.
Material Evidence and Oral Histories in Dialogue
The study's methodology involved placing archaeological findings-such as turkey bones, eggshell fragments, and associated agricultural remains-into dialogue with oral traditions passed down through generations of Picuris Pueblo people. This dual approach revealed how agricultural practices, water management systems, and human-animal relationships developed together over centuries.
By integrating both forms of evidence, the research situates oral histories as authoritative sources of historical knowledge rather than reducing them to analogies or mere supplements for material analysis.
Implications for Archaeology and Heritage Practice
The work with Picuris Pueblo offers a model for other archaeologists seeking to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities. It demonstrates how ethical research can be rooted in care and reciprocity while still producing rigorous, peer-reviewed scholarship.
The approach taken in this article reflects Lindsay Martel Montgomery's broader body of work advocating for Indigenous data sovereignty, community-led research agendas, and adherence to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These principles ensure that communities retain control over how their histories are documented, interpreted, and shared.
A Broader Commitment to Decolonizing Archaeology
This study is part of Lindsay Martel Montgomery's ongoing effort to decolonize archaeological practice. She has worked extensively on community-based projects in North America, often focusing on long-term partnerships that prioritize the needs and goals of Indigenous collaborators. Her scholarship bridges academic research, public engagement, and policy advocacy, influencing how universities, museums, and heritage agencies approach cultural resource management.
"Decolonizing archaeology is not about inserting diversity into existing systems," she explains. "It is about fundamentally rethinking those systems so that they reflect the values, priorities, and leadership of the communities whose histories are being studied."
Educational Impact
At the University of Toronto, Lindsay Martel Montgomery incorporates these collaborative principles into her teaching. She develops courses that bring Indigenous knowledge holders and BIPOC scholars into the classroom and encourages students to think critically about the ethics of research. Her mentorship prepares the next generation of archaeologists to work in ways that respect community authority and cultural protocols.
Looking Forward
The publication in the Journal of Social Archaeology is not the end of this collaboration. Lindsay Martel Montgomery and the Picuris Pueblo community plan to continue exploring the intersections of oral history, archaeology, and living tradition. Future projects may expand into digital archiving and heritage education programs that build on the gifting framework.
As heritage fields face increasing calls for accountability and inclusivity, the Picuris Pueblo Collaborative Archaeological Research Project (PCAP) offers a concrete example of how those ideals can be put into practice. It shows that when archaeologists work as partners, they can produce richer, more meaningful histories that honor both the past and the present.
About Lindsay Martel Montgomery
Lindsay Martel Montgomery is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Toronto and a leading scholar in Indigenous archaeology, heritage ethics, and decolonial research methods. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Stanford University and has conducted collaborative projects with Indigenous communities across North America. Her work focuses on ethical frameworks, trauma-informed practices, and the integration of oral history into archaeological interpretation.
Contact:
Lindsay Martel Montgomery
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-montgomery-38329b344/
email: lindsay.montgomery@utoronto.ca
SOURCE: Lindsay Montgomery
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