Research Interests

Dr. Milne is an archaeological anthropologist specializing in the analysis of northern latitude stone tool-using hunter-gatherer cultures. Her field of expertise is lithic (i.e. stone) technology, with a special focus on debitage (i.e. stone waste flakes). Dr. Milne’s theoretical interests include technological organization and mobility, skill acquisition, social organization, enculturation, and landscape learning. Dr. Milne’s current research integrates geochemical provenance techniques to characterize lithic source areas on southern Baffin Island. Using these sourcing data as proxies for human behaviour, Dr. Milne and her co-investigators are reconstructing ancient seasonal land use patterns among the Palaeo-Eskimo populations that lived in this region. Dr. Milne’s future research, with partnerships through the University of Waterloo and Government of Nunavut, aims to investigate the impacts of climate change on frozen archaeological deposits in Nunavut using non-invasive geophysical surveying instrumentation and 3D laser topographic scanning technology.

• “Chert Sourcing and Palaeo-Eskimo Lithic Technology: An Archaeometric Approach to Understanding Technological Organization on Southern Baffin Island.” Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Insight Grant Program ($256,140; 2012 – 2016)

• “Preservation and Promotion of Canadian Northern Heritage Resources: A Non-Invasive/Non-Destructive Approach to Archaeological Research.” Canada Foundation for Innovation, Leaders Opportunity Fund – Established ($194,877; 2010 – 2015).

• “Preservation and Promotion of Canadian Northern Heritage Resources: A Non-Invasive/Non-Destructive Approach to Archaeological Research.” Manitoba Innovation Fund, Government of Manitoba ($194,877; 2010 – 2015).

• “Preservation and Promotion of Canadian Northern Heritage Resources: A Non-Invasive/Non-Destructive Approach to Archaeological Research.” Manitoba Heritage Grants Program, Government of Manitoba ($7808; 2012 – 2013)