Charles Cobb, Ph.D.
James E. Lockwood, Jr. Professor in Florida and Caribbean Archaeology and Curator of Historical Archaeology
Florida Museum of Natural History
For over a decade, Charles Cobb has served as a curator for the Florida Museum of Natural History and professor of historical archaeology. His research focuses on pre-colonial Native American societies and European colonialism across the southeastern United States. His fieldwork over the past five years has spanned Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina as well as collaborative projects with the Chickasaw Nation and institutions such as the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. He has developed an online database of digitized artifacts from Spanish Mission sites known as the Comparative Mission Archaeology Portal.
In addition to his role as curator, Cobb has also held leadership roles, including director of the Randell Research Center from 2021–2024. Cobb received his doctorate in 1988 from Southern Illinois University and held faculty positions at SUNY-Binghamton and the University of South Carolina.
A nationally recognized scholar, Cobb has authored or edited four books, including “The Archaeology of Southeastern Native American Landscapes of the Colonial Era,” and published over 70 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His work appears in leading journals like American Antiquity and Scientific Reports, and he regularly presents at major conferences such as the American Anthropological Association and the Society for American Archaeology. His research has also garnered media coverage in outlets like American Archaeology and regional news, demonstrating both the impact and breadth of his work.
“Dr. Cobb is one of the leading historical archeolo- gists in the US focused on pre-colonial Native American societies and Spanish colonialism,” said David C. Blackburn, chair of the Department of Natural History. “He is a valued member of our department and an excellent scholar.”
An engaged and effective educator, Cobb teaches field and laboratory methods in archaeology, mentors graduate and undergraduate students, and contributes to curriculum development in American Indian and Indigenous Studies. He has chaired or served on over a dozen dissertation committees at the University of Florida, the University of South Carolina, and Binghamton University.
Beyond research and teaching, Cobb has provided distinguished service to the university and his field. He has held roles such as president of the AAA’s Archaeology Division and Faculty Senator, and serves as co-editor of the Ripley P. Bullen Series. His excellence in scholarship, mentorship, and service has earned him recognition as a UF Term Professor and AAA Patty Jo Watson Distinguished Lecturer.