Dr Matthew Brown is an Associate Professor of Archaeology and Chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Farmingdale State College. He currently conducts field work and research on the of bioarchaeology pre-historic people of Antigua, West Indies focusing on skeletal health and disease. More recently, Dr Brown has started to use newer techniques such as drone mounted thermal imaging and underwater ROVs to address archaeological questions in Antigua. In addition to his work in the Caribbean he curates and conducts research on a large collection of human remains from the Roman Period site of Sirmium (1st -6th century CE) currently housed in his lab at Farmingdale State College where he focuses on infectious and metabolic diseases in children as related to periods of elevated stress during the late Roman Empire. In addition to Dr Brown’s work in archaeology, he has also consulted on forensic cases in Antigua and St. Kitts.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Anthropology (ANT 100)Introduction to Archaeology (ANT 120)
Forensic Anthropology (ANT 370)
Human Osteology (ANT 330)
Education
- PhD, Anthropology (Archaeology), Graduate School and University Center (CUNY), 2013
Certificates & Licensures
- RPA, Register of Professional Archaeology, Register of Professional Archaeology
- OSHA 30, OSHA
- PADI Rescue Diver, PADI
Publications
- Matthew Brown, Ancient Plasmodium genomes shed light on the history of human malaria, Nature, 2024.
- Matthew Brown, Hart Island Human Remains Report, commissioned by CHYSALYSIS Archaeology and FEMA, 2022.
- Matthew Brown, Trinity Church-Phase 1 Stage 1 and 2 Report (Appendix A), commissioned by Joan Geismar PhD, LLC, 2020.
- Matthew Brown, Washington Square Park Appendix E – Human Remains Report, commissioned by Chrysalis Archaeology Consultants and LPC (Landmarks Preservation Commission) of NYC, 2020.
- Erin Friedman, Cory Look and Matthew Brown, Using UAV's to Manage Archaeological Heritage: A Multiscale Analysis in G. Fox (Ed.), Plowing Paradise: The Historical Archaeology of Betty's Hope Plantation, : Florida University Press (2020).
- Matthew Brown, Trinity Church: Appendix A – Human Skeletal Remains, commissioned by Dr Joan Geismar, LLC, 2019.
- Matthew Brown, Indian Creek Archaeology Report - Summer 2018, commissioned by , 2018.
- Sophia Perdikaris, Allison Bain, Rebecca Boger, Sandrine Grouard and Matthew Brown, Cultural Heritage under threat: The effects of climate change on the small island of Barbuda, Lesser Antilles in T. Dawson, C. Nimura and E. Lopez-Romero (Eds.), Public Archaeology and Climate Change. Oxbow Books, LTD, : Oxbow Books (2017).
- Matthew Brown, Exposed Burials on Galleon Beach, Antigua – a preliminary reporting, , 2017.
- Matthew Brown, Golden Grove, Antigua Forensic Anthropology Report, commissioned by Royal Antiguan Police Force, Crime Scene Investigation Unit, 2016.
- Matthew Brown, Childhood scurvy in a medieval burial from Mačvanska Mitrovica, Serbia, Brown, Matthew, and Donald J. Ortner. "Childhood scurvy in a medieval burial from Mačvanska Mitrovica, Serbia." International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 21.2 (2011): 197-207., 21(2) 2009.
Presentations
- Cory Look, Matthew Brown and Reg Murphy, “Anthrosol Formation and Mortuary Landscape Modification at Indian Creek, Antigua.” Paper presented to the Society for American Archaeology 91st Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California on April 30, 2026.
- Matthew Brown, Cory Look, Reg Murphy, Genevieve Godbout and Tamara Varney, “Carved into Caliche: Mortuary Practices and Crisis Mortality at Galleon Beach, Antigua, West Indies.” Paper presented to the Society For American Archaeology, San Francisco, California on April 29, 2026.
- Matthew Brown, Cory Look, Reg Murphy and Tamara Varney, “An Assessment of Archaeology and Archaeological Methods in Antigua, West Indies:The Last 30 years.” Paper presented to the Society for American Archaeology, Denver, CO on April 25, 2025.
- Cory Look, L. A. Curet and Matthew Brown, “Multi-Scaler 3D scanning and Capture at Tibes: Integrating Land Use Legacies, Hurricane Impacts, and Pre-Columbian Modeling for Future Preservation.” Paper presented to the Society for American Archaeology, Denver, Colorado on April 25, 2025.
- Matthew Brown, Cory Look, Reg Murphy and Tamara Varney, “Mortuary Practices at the Pre-Columbian Site of Indian Creek, Antigua - Preliminary Results.” Paper presented to the , New Orleans on April 19, 2024.
- Matthew Brown, Cory Look, Tamara Varney and Reg Murphy, “18th-19th Century Unmarked Burials at Freeman’s Bay Antigua During a Time of Deadly Disease within English Harbor's Military Complex.” Paper presented to the Society for American Archaeology, on April 2, 2022.
- Cory Look, Erin Friedman and Matthew Brown, “Moving Past Climate Change Impacts on Archaeological Sites: How Advancing Digital Technologies Are Creating New Paths for Engagement.” Paper presented to the Society for American Archaeology, Chicago on April 1, 2022.
- Matthew Brown, Cory Look, Tamara Varney, Reg Murphy, Samatha Weidre and Joy Jones, “The Bioarchaeology of Antigua: 1200 years of Health and Disease.” Poster presented at the Celebration of Scholarship, Farmingdale State College on November 5, 2019.
- TL Varney, Matthew Brown, T. Swanston, DML Cooper, I. Coulthard and AR Murphy, “Contributions of archaeological bone chemistry to bioarchaeological investigation of the Royal Naval Hospital Cemetery at English Harbour, Antigua, WI.” Paper presented to the , on October 25, 2019.
- J. Munkittrick, Tamara Varney, Matthew Brown, Reg Murphy, Cory Look and Vaughn Grimes, “Exploring childhood origins of probable 18th-19th century Royal Naval sailors at Freeman’s Bay, Antigua using stable isotope analyses.” Poster presented at the , on October 24, 2019.
- Cory Look, A. R. Murphy and Matthew Brown, “Change or Stability: A Case Study at Indian Creek, Antigua.” Paper presented to the International Association of Caribbean Archaeology Conference, St. Croix on July 26, 2019.
- Matthew Brown, Reg Murphy and Samantha Wiedre, “Archaeological and Bioarchaeological Investigation at the Pre-Columbian Site of Indian Creek, Antigua, West Indies.” Poster presented at the Celebration of Scholarship, Farmingdale State College on October 30, 2018.
- Matthew Brown, “Application of UAVs to Overcome Short and Long-term Challenges for Culture Heritage Management.” Paper presented to the 27th Congress of the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology, ST. Croix on July 25, 2017.
- Matthew Brown, Excavations at Galleon Beach, Antigua 18th - 19th Century Cemetery, Presentation presented to the National Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, St John, Antigua, on July 15, 2017.
- Tamara Varney, Treena Swanston and Matthew Brown, “Insights into health at the Napoleonic era Royal Naval Dockyard, Antigua, WI.” Paper presented to the Canadian Association for Physical Anthropology CAPA 2016 44th Annual Meeting, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario on October 28, 2016.
- Matthew Brown, Childhood Morbidity and Mortality in the Late Roman World, Colloquium presented to the Farmingdale State College, on.
- Matthew Brown, “Change or Stability in Pre-Columbian Villages: A Case Study at Indian Creek, Antigua.” Paper presented to the , on.
- Matthew Brown, “Distilling the Mysteries Surrounding Lead Exposure in the 19th Century CE.” Paper presented to the , on.
- Matthew Brown, Cory Look, Reg Murphy and Tamara Varney, “Mortuary Practices at the Pre-Columbian Site of Indian Creek, Antigua - Preliminary Results.” Paper presented to the Society for American Archaeology, New Orleans, Louisiana on.
- Cory Look, A. R. Murphy and Matthew Brown, “Indian Creek Revisited: Pre-Columbian Soils.” Paper presented to the Society for American Archaeology, San Francisco on.
