Dr. Somers joined GSRC in 2007 as an archaeologist and GIS specialist. His 2007 completion of his doctorate has provided him with six years of experience in archaeological fieldwork and GIS analysis. He has participated and supervised teams in eight archaeological surveys and excavations in Belize. As a research assistant and project supervisor Bretton has been responsible for pedestrian and underwater surveying, shovel testing, excavation, mapping and collection of archaeological field data, laboratory analysis of artifacts and creation of GIS databases for multiple projects. He has implemented GIS analysis in his Master’s thesis and dissertation research as well as working as an analyst on several professional projects. As a graduate student, Bretton was responsible for the management of the Maya Archaeology Laboratory at LSU including the temporary curation and conservation of organic and non-organic artifacts, assisting the construction of the Paynes Creek Archaeology Project GIS and the transcription and management of several seasons of field data.

 

Dr. Somers received a Ph.D.and Master of Science in Geography from Louisiana State University. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of New Hampshire.