John W Olsen

Interests

Teaching

archaeology, prehistory

Research

1. Eastern Eurasian prehistory with a temporal and geographical focus on the Paleolithic archaeology of arid and high-altitude Central and Inner Asia, particularly Mongolia and Greater Tibet. 2. Paleoecology and the impact of environmental degradation on prehistoric societies in arid zones. 3. Spatial analysis in archaeology, including applications of remote sensing and geographic information systems. 4. Cultural heritage preservation. Fieldwork conducted in: U.S. (Florida & Arizona), Colombia, Belize, Philippines, Egypt, Sudan, People’s Republic of China (Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Gansu, Xinjiang & Ningxia), Việt Nam, Kazakhstan, Özbekiston, Türkmenistan, Russia (Siberia), Mongolia, and Tibet (including Qinghai/Amdo and the Tibet Autonomous Region).

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Chapters

• Olsen, J. W., & Gunchinsuren, B. (2013). The Upper Paleolithic of Mongolia and Northwest China. In Basic Issues in Archaeology, Anthropology, and Ethnography of Eurasia, Festschrift on the Occasion of Anatoly Derevianko's 70th Birthday edited by V. I. Molodin and M. V. Shunkov(pp 182-193). Novosibirsk, Russia: Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian branch.
• Olsen, J. W. (2007). A Short Chronology for the Peopling of the Tibetan Plateau. Elsevier.
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  ;Your Role: Senior author (in spite of name placement in list of authors; Brantingham needs the brownie points more than I do);Full Citation: 2007. (with P. J. Brantingham, Gao Xing, Ma Haizhou, D. Rhode, Zhang Haiying, and D. B. Madsen) “A Short Chronology for the Peopling of the Tibetan Plateau,” in Late Quaternary Climate Change and Human Adaptation in Arid China, edited by D. B. Madsen, F. H. Chen, and X. Gao, pp. 129-150. New York: Elsevier. ;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Includes collaboration with colleagues at other US and foreign institutions.;

Journals/Publications

• Xie, L., Kuhn, S. L., Sun, G., Olsen, J. W., Zheng, Y., Ding, P., & Zhao, Y. (2015). Labor costs for prehistoric earthwork construction: experimental and archaeological insights from the Lower Yangzi Basin, China.. American Antiquity, 80(1), 67-88.
• Kuhn, S. L., Feng, L., Olsen, J. W., Chen, F., & Gao, X. (2014). Disparate technological evolution of West and East: Lithic technological variability and population relations in North China during MIS 3.. Journal of Anthropological research, 70, 35-68..
• Olsen, J. W., Brantingham, P. J., Gao, X., Madsen, D., Rhode, D., Perreault, C., & Van Der Woerd, J. (2013). Late Occupation of the High-Elevation Northern Tibetan Plateau. Geoarchaeology, 28(5), 413-431.
• Olsen, J. W., Derevianko, A. P., Rybin, E. P., Gladyshev, S. A., Gunchinsuren, B., & Tsibankov, A. A. (2013). Razvitiye Tekologicheskikh Traditsiy Izgotovleniya Orudiy v Kamennykh Industriyakh Rannego Etapa Verkhnego Paleolita Severnoy Mongolii, po Materialam Stoyanok Tolbor-4 i -15 (Technological Developments in the Tool-making Tradition of the Early Upper Paleolithic Stone Industry of Northern Mongolia, based on Materials from the Tolbor-4 and -15 Localities). Arkheologiya, Ethnografiya i Antropologiya Evrazii, 4(56), 21-37.
• Olsen, J. W., Gladyshev, S. A., Gunchinsuren, B., Dogandzic, T., Jull, A. J., Zwyns, N. P., Tabarev, A. V., & Talamo, S. (2013). Radioglerodonoe Daterovaniye Paleolitichesnikh Stoyanok v Doline Reki Ikh-Tulberiin-Gol v Severnoi Mongolii (Radiocarbon Dating of Paleolithic Sites in the Ikh-Tulberiin-Gol River Valley, Northern Mongolia. Vestnik Novosibirskii Gosudarstvennii Universitet, 12(5), 44-48.
• Olsen, J. W., Derevianko, A. P., Xing, G., & Rybin, E. P. (2012). Paleolit Dzungarii (Severo-Zapadnii Kitai): po Materialam Mestonakhozhdeniya Lotoshi. Arkheologiya, Ethnografiya i Antropologiya Evrazii.
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  In Russian.;Your Role: Third author; contributed historical context for archaeological finds (in Russian).;Full Citation: (with A. P. Derevianko, Gao Xing, and E. P. Rybin) “Paleolit Dzungarii (Severo-Zapadnii Kitai): po Materialam Mestonakhozhdeniya Lotoshi,” Arkheologiya, Ethnografiya i Antropologiya Evrazii 4(52): 2-18. (In Russian).;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: International collaboration with Chinese and Russian colleagues.;
• Olsen, J. W., Gillam, J. C., Gladyshev, S. A., Tabarev, A. V., & , B. G. (2012). Halfway to Murun: Shedding New Light on Paleolithic Landscapes of Northern Mongolia. Legacy.
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  ;Your Role: Co-author of English text.;Full Citation: (with J. C. Gillam, S. A. Gladyshev, A. V. Tabarev, and B. Gunchinsuren) Halfway to Murun: Shedding New Light on Paleolithic Landscapes of Northern Mongolia, Legacy 16(2): 14-17.;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Collaboration with international colleagues and colleagues at other US institution.;
• Olsen, J. W., Gladyshev, S. A., Tabarev, A. V., & J., A. (2012). The Upper Paleolithic of Mongolia: Recent Finds and New Perspectives. Quaternary International.
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  ;Your Role: Co-author of English text.;Full Citation: (with S. A. Gladyshev, A. V. Tabarev, and A. J. T. Jull) “The Upper Paleolithic of Mongolia: Recent Finds and New Perspectives,” Quaternary International 281: 36-46.;Collaborative with faculty member at UA: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: International collaboration;
• Olsen, J. W., Gladyshev, S. A., & Tabarev, A. V. (2011). Itogi Izucheniya Verkhnego Paleolita Severnoi Mongolii (Results of the Study of the Upper Paleolithic of Northern Mongolia). Vestnik Novosibirskii Gosudarstvennii Universitet.
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  ;Your Role: co-author; sole author of English version;Full Citation: (with S. A. Gladyshev and A. V. Tabarev) “Itogi Izucheniya Verkhnego Paleolita Severnoi Mongolii” (“Results of the Study of the Upper Paleolithic of Northern Mongolia”), Vestnik Novosibirskii Gosudarstvennii Universitet 10(5): 28-43.;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Gladyshev and Tabarev are both affiliated with the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk;
• Olsen, J. W., Gladyshev, S. A., , B. G., Rybin, E. P., Tabarev, A. V., Bolorbat, T., & , D. O. (2011). Itogi Izucheniya Mnogosloinogo Paleoliticheskogo Pamyatnika Tolbor-15 v 2010 Godu (Results of the Study of the Tolbor-15 Multilayered Paleolithic Site in 2010). Arkheologiin Sudlal.
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  ;Your Role: co-author; sole author of English version.;Full Citation: with S. A. Gladyshev, B. Gunchinsuren, E. P. Rybin, A. V. Tabarev, Ts. Bolorbat, and D. Odsuren) “Itogi Izucheniya Mnogosloinogo Paleoliticheskogo Pamyatnika Tolbor-15 v 2010 Godu” (“Results of the Study of the Tolbor-15 Multilayered Paleolithic Site in 2010”), Arkheologiin Sudlal (Studia Archaeologica Instituti Archaeologici Academiae Scientiarum Mongolicae) 30(1-14): 21-50.;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: my co-authors are all affiliated with the Russian and Mongolian Academies of Sciences;
• Olsen, J. W., , D. R., Haizhou, M., Madsen, D. B., Brantingham, P. J., & Forman, S. L. (2010). Paleoenvironmental and Archaeological Investigations at Qinghai Lake, Western China: Geomorphic and Chronometric Evidence of Lake Level History. Quaternary International.
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  ;Your Role: Second author;Full Citation: 2010 (with D. Rhode, Ma Haizhou, D. B. Madsen, P. J. Brantingham, and S. L. Forman) “Paleoenvironmental and Archaeological Investigations at Qinghai Lake, Western China: Geomorphic and Chronometric Evidence of Lake Level History,” Quaternary International 218: 29-44.;Collaborative with graduate student: Yes;
• Olsen, J. W., Gladyshev, S. A., , A. T., & , Y. K. (2010). Chronology and Periodization of the Upper Paleolithic Sites of Mongolia. Archaeology, Ethnography, and Anthropology of Eurasia.
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  ;Your Role: Junior author;Full Citation: 2010 (with S. A. Gladyshev, A. Tabarev, and Y. Kuzmin) “Chronology and Periodization of the Upper Paleolithic Sites of Mongolia,” Archaeology, Ethnography, and Anthropology of Eurasia 3(43): 35-42.;
• Olsen, J. W., Gladyshev, S. A., , A. T., & , Y. K. (2010). Khronologiya i Periodizatsiya Verkhnepaleoliticheskikh Pamyatnikov Mongolii. Arkheologiya, Etnografiya, i Antropologiya Evrazii.
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  Russian version of Gladyshev et al. 2010 reported above, BUT this is a substantially different text to which I contributed directly (in Russian).;Your Role: Junior author;Full Citation: 2010 (with S. A. Gladyshev, A. Tabarev, and Y. Kuzmin) “Khronologiya i Periodizatsiya Verkhnepaleoliticheskikh Pamyatnikov Mongolii,” Arkheologiya, Etnografiya, i Antropologiya Evrazii 3(43): 33-40. (In Russian).;
• Olsen, J. W., , D. R., Haizhou, M., Madsen, D. B., Brantingham, P. J., & Forman, S. L. (2009). Paleoenvironmental and Archaeological Investigations at Qinghai Lake, Western China: Geomorphic and Chronometric Evidence of Lake Level History. Quaternary International.
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  ;Your Role: Co-author responsible for approximately 20% of the writing and fully 50% of the archaeological analyses behind the publication itself.;Full Citation: (with D. Rhode, Ma Haizhou, D. B. Madsen, P. J. Brantingham, and S. L. Forman) “Paleoenvironmental and Archaeological Investigations at Qinghai Lake, Western China: Geomorphic and Chronometric Evidence of Lake Level History,” Quaternary International, online reference number QUATINT-D-08-00169R1).;Electronic: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Colleagues represent a number of scholarly institutions both in the US and in China.;
• Olsen, J. W., Brantingham, P. J., , D. M., , D. R., , R. F., & Haiying, Z. (2009). Cosmogenic Surface Exposure Dating of a Mesolithic Occupation on the Northern Tibet Plateau. Geoarchaeology.
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  ;Your Role: Co-author responsible for approximately 15% of the text. Principal fieldworker generating the data analyzed in the report.;Full Citation: (with P. J. Brantingham, D. Madsen, D. Rhode, R. Finkel, and Zhang Haiying) “Cosmogenic Surface Exposure Dating of a Mesolithic Occupation on the Northern Tibet Plateau,” Geoarchaeology 24(5): 577-591.;Electronic: Yes;Collaborative with graduate student: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Colleagues represent scholarly institutions both in the US and in China.;
• Olsen, J. W., Derevianko, A. P., , D. T., Gladyshev, S. A., Nokhrina, T. I., & Tabarev, A. V. (2008). New Insights into the Archaeological Record at Chikhen Agui Rockshelter (Mongolia). Archaeology, Ethnology, & Anthropology of Eurasia.
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  English and Russian versions of this article differ substantially.;Your Role: Second author; contributor to both English and Russian versions.;Full Citation: 2008.(with A. P. Derevianko, D. Tseveendorj, S. A. Gladyshev, T. I. Nokhrina, and A. V. Tabarev) “New Insights into the Archaeological Record at Chikhen Agui Rockshelter (Mongolia)” Archaeology, Ethnology, & Anthropology of Eurasia 2(34): 2-12.;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: This publication was crafted in collaboration with Russian and Mongolian colleagues and published bilingually.;
• Olsen, J. W., Derevianko, A. P., , D. T., Gladyshev, S. A., Nokhrina, T. I., & Tabarev, A. V. (2008). Novoe Prochtenie Arkheologicheskogo Konteksta Peshcher' Chikhen (Mongolia). Đ.
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  English and Russian versions of this article differ substantially.;Your Role: Second author; contributor to both English and Russian versions.;Full Citation: 2008.(with A. P. Derevianko, D. Tseveendorj, S. A. Gladyshev, T. I. Nokhrina, and A. V. Tabarev) “Novoe Prochtenie Arkheologicheskogo Konteksta Peshcher' Chikhen (Mongolia),” Arkheologiya, Etnografiya, i Antropologiya Evrazii 2(34): 2-12. (In Russian).;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: This publication was crafted in collaboration with Russian and Mongolian colleagues and published bilingually.;
• Olsen, J. W., , D. R., Haiying, Z., Madsen, D. B., Xing, G., Brantingham, P. J., & Haizhou, M. (2007). Epipaleolithic/Early Neolithic Settlements at Qinghai Lake, Western China. Journal of Archaeological Science.
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  ;Your Role: Third author;Full Citation: 2007.(with D. Rhode, Zhang Haiying, D. B. Madsen, Gao Xing, P. J. Brantingham, and Ma Haizhou) “Epipaleolithic/Early Neolithic Settlements at Qinghai Lake, Western China,” Journal of Archaeological Science 34: 600-612.;Collaborative with faculty member at UA: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Includes collaboration with foreign colleagues.;
• Olsen, J. W., Derevianko, A. P., Zenin, A. N., Rybin, E. P., Gladyshev, S. A., Tsybankov, A. A., , D. T., & , B. G. (2007). Technologiya Raschepleniya Kaminya na Rannem Etape Verkhnego Paleolita Severnoi Mongolii (Stoyanka Tolbor-4). Arkheologiya, Etnografiya, i Antropologiya Evrazii.
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  This is the Russian edition of the previous publication. Note, however, that these are two distinct articles, not mere translations of one another. I played an important role in the writing of each article.;Your Role: Second author;Full Citation: 2007.(with A. P. Derevianko, A. N. Zenin, E. P. Rybin, S. A. Gladyshev, A. A. Tsybankov, D. Tseveendorj, and B. Gunchinsuren) “Technologiya Raschepleniya Kaminya na Rannem Etape Verkhnego Paleolita Severnoi Mongolii (Stoyanka Tolbor-4),” Arkheologiya, Etnografiya, i Antropologiya Evrazii 1(29): 16-38. (In Russian).;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Includes collaboration with foreign colleagues.;
• Olsen, J. W., Derevianko, A. P., Zenin, A. N., Rybin, E. P., Gladyshev, S. A., Tsybankov, A. A., , D. T., & , B. G. (2007). The Technology of Early Upper Paleolithic Lithic Reduction in Northern Mongolia: the Tolbor-4 Site. Archaeology, Ethnology, & Anthropology of Eurasia.
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  ;Your Role: Second author;Full Citation: 2007.(with A. P. Derevianko, A. N. Zenin, E. P. Rybin, S. A. Gladyshev, A. A. Tsybankov, D. Tseveendorj, and B. Gunchinsuren) “The Technology of Early Upper Paleolithic Lithic Reduction in Northern Mongolia: the Tolbor-4 Site,” Archaeology, Ethnology, & Anthropology of Eurasia 1(29): 16-38.;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Includes collaboration with foreign colleagues.;
• Olsen, J. W., , G. K., Ormö, J., Achille, G. D., Kring, D. A., & , T. M. (2006). The Tsenkher Structure in the Gobi-Altai, Mongolia: Geomorphological Hints of an Impact Origin.
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  ;Your Role: Second author, translator;Full Citation: 2006 (with G. Komatsu, J. Ormö, G. Di Achille, D. A. Kring, and T. Matsui) “The Tsenkher Structure in the Gobi-Altai, Mongolia: Geomorphological Hints of an Impact Origin,” Geomorphology 74: 164-180.;Collaborative with faculty member at UA: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Includes collaboration with Italian and Japanese colleagues;
• Olsen, J. W., D., w., Haizhou, M., Brantingham, P. J., Xing, G., , D. R., & Haiying, Z. (2006). The Late Upper Paleolithic Occupation of the Northern Tibetan Plateau Margin.
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  ;Your Role: Third author;Full Citation: 2006 (with D. B. Madsen, Ma Haizhou, P. J. Brantingham, Gao Xing, D. Rhode, and Zhang Haiying) “The Late Upper Paleolithic Occupation of the Northern Tibetan Plateau Margin,” Journal of Archaeological Science 33: 1433-1444.;Collaborative with faculty member at UA: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Includes collaboration with colleagues from other US institutions and China;

Presentations

• Olsen, J. W., & None, . (2012, 2012-07-01). Preserving Tangible and Intangible Cultural Properties in Mongolia. Global Cultural Heritage; A Chinese Perspective. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing.
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  ;Your Role: Sole author of 95% of text.;Invited: Yes;Collaborative with undergraduate student: Yes;Type of Presentation: Academic Conference;
• Olsen, J. W., & None, . (2011, 2011-07-01). Preserving Tangible and Intangible Cultural Properties in Mongolia. The Future of Mongolia's Cultural heritage. Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar.
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  This conferences was organized by the Mongolian government and UNESCO to bring stakeholders together from the governmental, NGO, private, and public sectors to discuss ways in which potential damage to Mongolia's tangible and intangible heritage might be mitigated by strategic planning.;Invited: Yes;Collaborative with undergraduate student: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Olsen, J. W., & None, . (2010, 2010-06-01). The First Peopling of the Tibet Plateau and Mongolia. The Past Decade of Chinese Archaeology. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing.
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  ;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;
• Olsen, J. W. (2009, 2009-10-01). The Prehistory of High and Arid Central Asia. invited presentation. UC, Berkeley.
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  ;Invited: Yes;Interdisciplinary: Yes;Collaborative with graduate student: Yes;Type of Presentation: University;
• Olsen, J. W. (2009, 2010-10-01). The Earliest Peopling of Tibet and Mongolia: An Archaeological Perspective. Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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  Two versions of this presentation were made during my visit to Taiwan; one for a primarily academic audience and another for a mixed audience.;Invited: Yes;Interdisciplinary: Yes;Collaborative with graduate student: Yes;Type of Presentation: Academic & Public (two presentations);
• Olsen, J. W. (2008, 2008-04-01). The Pleistocene Prehistory of Mongolia and Tibet. Archaeological Institute of America. Arizona State University.
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  ;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Professional Organization;
• Olsen, J. W. (2008, 2008-10-01). Contextualizing American and Turkish Cultures. Foundation for Inter-Cultural Dialog. University of Arizona.
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  ;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Community Outreach;
• Olsen, J. W. (2007, 2007-04-01). The Paleolithic Prehistory of Tibet. Southern California Archaeological Society. Los Angeles.
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  ;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Professional Organization;
• Olsen, J. W. (2006, 2006-05-01). The Paleolithic of Mongolia. East Asian Studies Centre lecture series. Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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  ;Invited: Yes;Type of Presentation: Invited/Plenary Speaker;

Others

• Olsen, J. W., , B. G., & Altschul, J. H. (2011). Protecting the Past, Preserving the Present: Report on Phase 1 Activities of the Oyu Tolgoi Cultural Heritage Program Design for Ă–mnögovi Aimag (Mongolia).
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  Report of Phase 1 of the Mongolian Cultural Heritage Project funded by Oyu Tolgoi, LLC in Ulaanbaatar.;Your Role: co-editor;Full Citation: edited with B. Gunchinsuren and J. H. Altschul) Protecting the Past, Preserving the Present: Report on Phase 1 Activities of the Oyu Tolgoi Cultural Heritage Program Design for Ömnögovi Aimag Mongolia). Ulaanbaatar: Oyu Tolgoi LLC.;Electronic: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: B. Gunchinsuren is with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and J. Altschul is with Statistical Research, Inc.;
• Olsen, J. W., , B. G., & Amartuvshin, C. (2011). A Regional Research Design for Mongolian Archaeology: Ă–mnögovi Aimag.
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  ;Your Role: Co-author; sole author of English version.;Full Citation: (with B. Gunchinsuren and Ch. Amartuvshin) “A Regional Research Design for Mongolian Archaeology: Ömnögovi Aimag,” in A Cultural Heritage Plan for Mongolia edited by J. H. Altschul, J. W. Olsen, and B. Gunchinsuren, pp. 58-71. Ulaanbaatar: Oyu Tolgoi LLC.;Electronic: Yes;Other collaborative: Yes;Specify other collaborative: Both of my co-authors are with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences in Ulaanbaatar.;