State Archaeologist

A native of Brunswick County, NC, John received his BS in social science with a concentration in anthropology in 1985 from Appalachian State University and his MA in anthropology in 1989 from the University of Arkansas. John joined OSA in 1998 serving many roles including site registrar, Assistant State Archaeologist, and Deputy State Archaeologist-Land before becoming the State Archaeologist in 2017.

Prior to joining the OSA, John worked for the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as a staff archaeologist. Before joining NCDOT, he was a private sector archaeology project manager with R. Christopher Goodwin and Associates where his responsibilities included directing Phase I, II and III-level archaeological projects. While at the University of Arkansas he was a research assistant and project archaeologist for the Arkansas Archaeological Survey.

John brings more than 35 years of experience investigating historic, prehistoric, and maritime archaeological sites throughout the Southeast and Middle Atlantic regions. His research interests include economic anthropology and ethnohistory. He has a strong, enthusiastic, and abiding commitment to and engagement in public archaeology field schools and cross-divisional partnerships and collaborations.

919.814.6555john.mintz@dncr.nc.gov