The SMASH project is pleased to announce the successful dissertation defense and graduation of Dr. Stefan Brannan. His dissertation is entitled “The Settlement Archaeology of Singer-Moye: A large 14th century town in the Chattahoochee Valley.”

The highlight of Stefan’s dissertation research involved a shovel-test survey of more than 60 ha of area encompassing the Singer-Moye site core and surrounding lands. He paired this extensive survey with targeted excavations in order to gain a representative sample of ceramics from areas occupied throughout the duration of the site’s occupation and created a robust internal chronology for the site. That chronology was then used to explain the processes through which Singer-Moye grew from a small, pioneering settlement to a very large, aggregated civic-ceremonial center and how those processes related to other events in the Chattahoochee River valley, the wider Mississippian southeast, as well as the formation and maintenance of large settlements cross-culturally.

Post-graduation, Stefan will continue to serve as Principal Investigator for New South Associates.

Researchers interested in obtaining a copy of the dissertation can contact Stefan at sbrannan at newsouthassoc.com.