Vice President, Principal Investigator, & Project Manager
Allen Rutherford has 19 years of experience in the field of archaeology. His field experience includes research in Turkey, Peru, the southwest, and throughout the states of Texas and Oklahoma. In addition to his field experience, Rutherford is also a ceramic and geospatial analyst and has an extensive background in Section 106 and Texas Antiquities Code compliance. Rutherford earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from the College of Charleston (CofC) in 2005. During his time there, he participated in the Göksu Archaeological Project in Turkey, where he contributed to the design of the project’s ArcGIS infrastructure. His initial field experience included conducting Phase I surveys in the Göksu Valley.
In 2008, Rutherford earned a Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University (NIU). His Master’s thesis focused on spatial relationships, both geographical and artificial, among Preceramic monumental sites along the Peruvian coast in the Norte Chico region. During his time at NIU, Rutherford conducted Phase I surveys in the Fortaleza and Pativilca valleys in Peru, as well as participated in excavations at two Preceramic monumental sites. Following his time at NIU, Rutherford began pursuing his Ph.D. in Anthropology at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, in 2008.
His current academic focus revolves around completing his dissertation, which explores multi-scalar sociopolitical development in the context of persistent cultural contact and warfare during the Late Intermediate Period on the Peruvian coast. His primary research site is a fortification and domestic center situated in the Huaura Valley, Peru, where he has conducted extensive fieldwork, including surveying, mapping, excavation, and materials analysis since 2010. Throughout his academic career, Rutherford has also shared his knowledge and passion with others. He has taught courses covering various anthropological topics while at Tulane and served as a teaching assistant for the Southern Methodist University field school at Pot Creek in Taos, New Mexico.
In 2014, Rutherford joined AR Consultants, Inc., where he has been actively engaged in numerous archaeological projects spanning Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. These projects encompass surveys related to oil, gas, and water pipelines, urban developments, and parks. Most recently he acted as Field Director for the Bois d’Arc Lake project during which he directed excavations at six NRHP-eligible sites. Allen has also added the role of ARC Vice President to his growing list of achievements.
Contact Rutherford via email at: allen@arc-digs.com