Sociology & Anthropology

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Sociology & Anthropology

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William N. Duncan

Professor of Anthropology and Associate Director of Undergraduate Research in Global Contexts, Honors College

 

 About Dr. Duncan

Bill Duncan is a biological anthropologist by training.  He has worked at ETSU for over a decade and is in his fifth year serving as department chair.  His research focuses on Mesoamerica, particularly the Maya area, dental anthropology, and forensic biohistory.  When he is not at work he enjoys cycling, playing the guitar, and hiking with his family.

CV

Course Level Course Name

Undergrad

Introduction to physical anthropology

Undergrad

  Forensic anthropology

Undergrad

  Paleoanthropology

Undergrad

  Race and human variation

Undergrad

  The Aztec, Maya and their neighbors
 CURRENT RESEARCH
My primary research area is bioarchaeology, which is to say I study human remains from archaeological sites.  Most of my early work focused on Mesoamerican cultures and dental anthropology.  Currently most of my research efforts are in forensic biohistory, which consists of historical forensic cases.  This work began when I was asked, along with a colleague, to study the skull of a martyred priest from the 16th century as a part of his canonization cause.  It has expanded to include a more general exploration regarding why some bodies receive interest from the public and experts alike.
PREVIOUS GRANTS 
 
  • 2011 National Science Foundation - $250,000
    Integrating developmental morphogenetic theory with dental biodistance practices
    CM Stojanowski, WN Duncan, J Femiani, GR Scott
  • 2008 NSF-Research Experiences for Undergraduates - $7,950
  • REU Supplementary grant for BCS #0640170
    AK Balkansky, WN Duncan
  • 2007 National Science Foundation - $176,222
    The archaeological precursors of the Mixtec civilization.
    AK Balkansky, WN Duncan
RECENT PUBLICATIONS 
 

BOOKS:

Studies in Forensic Biohistory

 

 

 

 

 

JOURNAL ARTICLES:

  • 2026       Duncan, WN, Stojanowski, CM. Forensic biohistory: Spectacular subjects, contested bodies.  Bioarchaeology International, Early view.

  • 2025       Rice, PM, Sharpe, A, Duncan, WN, Kamenov, G, Krigbaum, J. Postclassic political conflict and isotope analysis in the Central Peten Lakes area, Guatemala. Ancient Mesoamerica 36(2): 173-187.

  • 2019      Stojanowski, CM, Paul, K, Seidel, A, Duncan, WN, Guatelli-Steinberg, D. Quantitative genetic analyses of postcanine morphological crown variants. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 168(3):606-631.

  • 2018      Stojanowski, CM, Paul, K, Seidel, A, Duncan, WN, Guatelli-Steinberg, D. Heritability and genetic integration of anterior tooth crown variants in the South Carolina Gullah. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 167(1):124-143.

  • 2015      Stojanowski, CM, WN Duncan. Engaging bodies in the public imagination: Bioarchaeology as social science, science, and humanities. American Journal of Human Biology 27:51-60.

  • 2015       Duncan, WN, K Schwarz. A Postclassic Maya mass grave from Zacpetén. Journal of Field Archaeology 40(2):143-165.