Mary Elizabeth Fitts

About the Author

Mary Elizabeth Fitts is a distinguished archaeologist and scholar whose work illuminates the hidden histories of human bondage and resistance across cultures and eras. With a keen eye for material evidence and a commitment to interdisciplinary analysis, she explores how physical remnants of captivity reveal broader patterns of coercion and survival. Her seminal publication, The Archaeology of Slavery: A Comparative Approach to Captivity and Coercion (Center for Archaeological Investigations Occasional Paper, 41), exemplifies her rigorous methodology, drawing on global case studies to challenge traditional narratives of enslavement. Fitts's research bridges anthropology, history, and social justice, offering profound insights into the enduring legacies of oppression while advocating for ethical interpretations of the past. A dedicated educator, she inspires students and colleagues to engage with archaeology as a tool for understanding contemporary inequalities.