Samantha Upton

Field Supervisor

Sam joined the staff of CRA’s Knoxville office in July 2022. Sam specializes in zooarchaeology and has conducted faunal analyses, in addition to historic artifact analyses, from historical archaeological sites in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. She has over nine years of experience in archaeology conducting reconnaissance and Phase I level survey, Phase II and Phase III excavation, laboratory analysis, curation, and report writing. Sam has worked primarily in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee and the South Carolina Lowcountry, as well as the Mid-Atlantic region in Virginia. Sam also has extensive bioarchaeological experience, having spent four years working as a research specialist with the University of Tennessee’s Forensic Anthropology Center. There, Sam also led several trainings in Human vs. Non-Human osteology, aided in the identification of animal bone in forensic cases, and participated in many public outreach lectures/events and other training courses for members of the general public and law enforcement communities.

When not doing archaeology, Sam enjoys traveling and being outdoors without a shovel and screen in tow, and looks forward to spending time at home with her husband and two cats.