Asa Cameron

Professional Bio

My research explores the development of novel forms of political complexity, institutions, and statecraft processes with a particular focus on what the intersection between subsistence, mobility, and governance can reveal about ancient nomadic polities and social organization. I develop this scholarship through a multicomponent approach that incorporates fieldwork through survey and excavations with laboratory methods that include stable and radiogenic isotope analyses, zooarchaeology, and GIS to model diachronic patterns in human and animal diet and mobility. I am currently applying this research regime as the co-director of the Khulunbuir Archaeology Project (Mongolia) and the Jukuu Valley Archaeology Project (Kyrgyzstan). 

Recent Publications 

• Cameron, A., and D. Bukhchuluun (2025). Carnelian Beads during the Mongol Period (c.12th to 14th centuries AD) of Mongolia. In Production and Exchange in Eurasia; Volume in Honor of Lingyi Zeng, pp.141-162. Yale University Press. 
• Cameron, A., Carolus, C., Dashzeveg, B., Eklund, E., Greaves, A., Batdalai, B., and Amartuvshin, Ch. (2025). Early Agriculture on the Mongolian Steppe: Excavations at Khairt Suuryn, A Xiongnu Site in Northeastern Mongolia. Arctic Studies Center Newsletter: 49-50. 
• 2024 Carolus, C., Cameron, A., Bukhchuluun, D., Amartuvshin, Ch., Batdalai, B., Gabat, D., Odsuren, D., and Adiyasuren, M. Ritual Birch Bark Traditions in Prehistoric Eurasia: a Case Study from the Mongolian Gobi. Arctic Studies Center Newsletter: 50-53. 
• 2023 Carolus, C., Cameron, A. Bukhchuluun, D., and W. Honeychurch. Excavations at Aduun Ordon in the Mongolian Gobi. Arctic Studies Center Newsletter: 56-57. 
• 2022 Frahm, E., Carolus, C. M., Cameron, A., et al. Introducing the BRICC (Bricks and rocks for Instruments’ ceramic calibration) sets: Open-source calibration materials for quantitative X-ray fluorescence analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 43 (103443). 
• 2022 Kenoyer, J.M., Cameron, A., Bukhchuluun, D., Amartuvshin, Ch., Batdalai, B., Honeychurch, W., Dussubieux, L. and R. Law. Carnelian beads in Mongolia: new perspectives on technology and trade. Archeological and Anthropological Science 14 (6). 
• 2020 Janz, L., Cameron, A., Bukhchuluun, D., Odsuren, D., and L. Dubreuil. Expanding frontier and building the Sphere in arid East Asia. Quaternary International 559: 150-164. 
• 2019 Machicek, M. L., Chenery, C., Evans, J., Cameron, A., and A. Chamberlain. Pastoralist Strategies and Human Mobility: Oxygen (δ18OP) and Strontium (87Sr/86Sr) Isotopic Analysis of Early Human Remains from Egiin Gol and Baga Gazaryn Chuluu, Mongolia, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 11: 6649 – 6662.