Jon Hardes '01

Jon earned a degree in Geography-Anthropology, with an emphasis in Archaeology, from USM in 2001. While attending USM, he completed the Casco Bay Archaeology Field School in 1999, the St. John Archaeology Field School in the US Virgin Islands in 2000, and an internship with the R.S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology in Massachussetts in 2001. He also worked in the USM Archaeology Lab, under the direction of his advisor and mentor, Professor Nathan Hamilton, from 1999 to 2001.

After graduating from USM, he headed west, earning a master’s degree in Anthropology (emphasis in Archaeology) from the University of Montana. During his time at Montana, he served as Assistant Curator at the Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum, leading zooarchaeological investigations and assisting on forensic cases with “human vs. non-human” bone identifications. He also taught Vertebrate Osteology (ANTH/BIO 495). After completion of his master’s degree, he spent several years directing archaeological investigations throughout the Great Basin, Plains and Rocky Mountains.

In 2007, he became the Archaeologist for Glacier National Park, launching his career with the National Park Service. Subsequent positions have included Archaeologist for the Western Arctic National Parklands based in Kotzebue, Alaska and Archaeologist for Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward, Alaska. He continues to greatly enjoy employment with the National Park Service, now as Archaeologist and Planning & Compliance Program Manager for the Flagstaff Area National Monuments in Flagstaff, Arizona. In this position he leads the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Wilderness Compliance Program for the three area Monuments. During his time as a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA), he has authored numerous cultural resources reports and several published journal articles.