Originally from North Carolina, Lauren Downs is an archaeologist specializing in the prehistoric and early historic peoples of the southeastern United States. Before joining the Department of Anthropology at UAB in 2013, Lauren was an instructor at the University of Alabama, where she also received her master’s and doctoral degrees. Much of her research focuses on the late prehistoric Native American mound-building cultures of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. At sites in these regions, Lauren utilizes archaeological survey and excavation to address topics such as earthen mound construction and use, settlement patterns, cultural interaction/exchange, social inequality, and the ways in which each can inform our understanding of the past.