Peter R. Mills
Professor of Anthropology
Peter R. Mills
Peter Mills has been teaching at UH Hilo since 1997, and he received the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2001. He started his anthropological training at the University of Vermont (B.A. 1984), where he wrote an honor's thesis on stone tools found in the Champlain Valley. He completed his M.A. at Washington State University (1987), studying use-wear on stone axes from Sand Canyon Pueblo Ruin in southwestern Colorado. After that, he spent several years working in professional positions including fieldwork conducted as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), and for the Massachusetts Historical Commission (State Historic Preservation Office).
His first fieldwork in Hawaiʻi was with the Bishop Museum in the winter of 1990/91 just before he entered a Ph.D. program in anthropology at U.C. Berkeley. His dissertation focused on a fort on Kauaʻi built by Hawaiians (Pā ʻulaʻula/Fort Elisabeth), in association with fur-traders from the Russian-American Company. The dissertation formed the foundation for Mills’s 2002 book Hawaiʻi's Russian Adventure: a new look at old history (UH Press). A 2020 online lecture is also available from the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation.
Peter served as president of the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology from 2010-2012, and received the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology's 2022 Public Archaeology Award. He has held board positions with the Paniolo Preservation Society , Laupāhoehoe Train Museum , Hawaiʻi Historic Places Review Board , and the Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council for the Hawaiʻi Experimental Tropical Forest . He also works closely with the Honokaʻa Heritage Center.
Projects
MA in Heritage Management
Faculty and Graduate Students in the MA in Heritage Management
UH Hilo initiated a provisional Master's degree program in Heritage Management in the Fall of 2015 directed by Dr. Mills, and the program was granted permenant status by the UH Board of Regents in the summer of 2022. The main purpose of this program is to provide affordable, localized, and regionally-focused graduate training to members of Hawaiʻi's descendant communities, with specializations in applied archaeology and cultural impact assessment. In Hawaiʻi, there is a State requirement for graduate degrees in various Heritage Management positions. For example, Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (Title 13, Subtitle 13, Chapter 281) require that principal investigators working for one of the two-dozen firms licensed to conduct archaeological research possess a graduate degree from an accredited institution in archaeology, or anthropology, with a specialization in archaeology, or an equivalent field. Without providing local opportunities to achieve these degrees, many UH Hilo students hit 'glass ceilings' in their careers with their B.A. degrees. For information on applying to the program, visit the UH Hilo Graduate website. If you wish to support this program, please see the donation link above and visit our Facebook page.
Non-Destructive Sourcing of Polynesian Stone Tools
Adze debitage and hammerstones, Mauna Kea Adze Quarry
In the Spring of 2004 Dr. Mills began a long-term geoarchaeology project facilitated through a Major Research Instrumentation Grant from the National Science Foundation (BCS-0317528). Mills works in collaboration with Dr. Steve Lundblad (UH Hilo Dept. of Geology), using non-destructive Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) to analyze basalt and volcanic glass artifacts (see the Geoarchaeology Laboratory at UH Hilo).
Historical Archaeology of Hawaiian Ranching Sites
Beginning in 2001, Mills began an historical archaeology project at UH Hilo to investigate the development of ranching traditions in Hawaii in the ahupuaʻa of Humuʻula on the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea. This project led to a collaborative relationship with Dr. Carolyn White and her students at the University of Nevada, Reno. Field Schools in 2009 and 2011 have focused on two ranching stations at Laumaiʻa. The earliest station appears to have been in use in the 1860s and abandoned shortly thereafter.
For additional information on previous field school work, check out the Stone Corral Complex at Keanakolu (50-10-15-24250)
Selected Publications (# = UH Hilo student co-authors)
Downs, D.T., Trusdell, F.A., Lynn, K.J., Schmith, J., Chang, J.M., Gansecki, C.A., Lundblad, S.P., Deligne, N.I., Orr, T.R., Gallant, E., Dotray, P.J., Zoeller, M.H., Patrick, M.R., Parcheta, C.E., McDade, B., and Mills, P.R. 2023. Sample details and near-real-time ED-XRF, grain size, and grain shape data collected during the November – December 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi USGS ScienceBase-Catalog, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NA7GU3
Mills, P. R. 2023. Connecting the Kingdom: Sailing Vessels in the Early Hawaiian Monarchy, 1790-1840. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press. (296 pp.) 10: 0824893980; ISBN-13: 9780824893989.
Mills, P. R., S. P. Lundblad, #C. Cauley, D. S. Coleman, J. S. Field, A. L. Hafner, J. G. Kahn, J. M. Sinton, and P. V. Kirch 2022. Provenance, production, and distribution of basalt and volcanic glass artifacts in Leeward Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island. Geoarchaeology, 37 (5):733-749.
Quintus, S., P. R. Mills, J. Konter, S. Day, #D. Gilreath, N. K. Lincoln., S. P. Lundblad, D. Vonderhaar, and K. Yoo. 2022. Trace Element and Pb isotope analyses highlight decentralized inter-island exchange in American Sāmoa (Polynesia). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 14 (103) Springer Nature.
Molodin, Aleksander V. and P. R. Mills. 2021. Addressing Tensions between Colonial and Post-Colonial Histories: Modeling Hawaiian Fort Pā'ula'ula/Russian Fort Elizabeth, Kaua'i Island, Hawaiʻi. Asian Perspectives, 60 (1):2-31. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/asi.2020.0035.
Divito, Nathaniel J., T. S. Dye, K. Elington, J. L. Gunness, E. Hellebrande, E. Jourdane, S. Lundblad, #N. Mello, P. R. Mills, and J. M. Sinton. 2020. Volcanic glass at Kualoa, O‘ahu, Hawaiian Islands: Paired technological and geochemical sourcing analyses of an expedient tool industry. Journal of Archaeological Science. Reports: 30(2020)102117.
Lee, R.L., Gansecki, C., Lundblad, S., Mills, P., Adams, D.T., Conrey, R., and Wagoner, L.. 2019. Whole-rock and glass chemistry of lava samples collected during the 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kilauea: U.S. Geological Survey data release.
Mills, P.R., #P. Lima, #L. Brandt, J. Kahn, P. Kirch, and S. Lundblad. 2017. Paired geochemical and technological analyses of basalt adze debitage at the Hālawa Dune Site, Molokaʻi Island, Hawaiʻi. Archaeology in Oceania. 53(2):78-91. DOI: 10.1002 / arco.5143.
Kahn, J.G., S.P. Lundblad, P.R., Mills, Y. Chan, K. Longenecker, and Y. Sinoto. 2016. Settlement Chronologies and Shifting Resource Exploitation in Ka'ū District, Hawaiian Islands. Asian Perspectives 55(2):184-207.
Putzi, J.L., N.J. Divito, C.E. Sholin, P.R, Mills, S.P. Lundblad, B. Camara, and T.S. Dye 2015. Alternative Models of Volcanic Glass Quarrying and Exchange in Hawaiʻ. Journal of Archaeological Science Reports 2:341-352.
Kirch, P.V., G. Molle, C. Nickelsen, P. Mills, E. Dotte-Sarout, J. Swift, A. Wolfe, and M. Horrocks. 2015. Human ecodynamics in the Mangareva Islands: a stratified sequence from Nenega-Iti Rock Shelter (site AGA-3, Agakauitai Island). Archaeology in Oceania. 50(1):23-42. DOI: 10.1002/arco.5050.
Mills, P.R. and S.P Lundblad. 2014. Current Perspectives on Hawaiʻi's Stone Tool Economies.Journal of Pacific Archaeology 5(2):30-39.
Lundblad, S.P., P.R. Mills, J. Kahn, #K. Mulliken, K. and #C. Cauley. 2014. New insights from the Waiʻahukini Rockshelter Site (H8), Kaʻū District, Hawaiʻi Island from non-destructive EDXRF geochemistry. Hawaiian Archaeology Special Publication No. 4, Papers in Honor of Dr. Yosihiko Sinoto, edited by Windy K. McElroy and Eric Komori, pp. 73-84.
Charleux, M., A. McAlister, P. R. Mills, and S. P. Lundblad 2014. Non-destructive XRF Analyses of Fine-grained Basalts from Eiao, Marquesas Islands. Journal of Pacific Archaeology 5(1):75-89.
Mills, P.R., C.L. White, and B. Barna. 2013. The Paradox of the Paniolo: An Archaeological Perspective of Hawaiian Ranching. Historical Archaeology 47(2):110-132.
Mills, P.R. and K. L. Kawelu. 2013. Decolonizing Heritage Management in Hawaiʻi. Advances in Anthropology 3(3):127-132.
Lundblad, S.P., P. R. Mills, M. D. McCoy, G. Kahn, #K. Mulliken and #Dane Kaylor. 2013. Identification of Volcanic Glass Sources Inferred from Geochemical Analysis of Artifacts on Leeward Hawaiʻi Island. In Pacific Archaeology_: Documenting the Past 50,000 Years. Papers from the 2011 Lapita Pacific Archaeology Conference_, edited by G. R. Summerhayes and Hallie Buckley. University of Otago Studies in Archaeology No. 25, Dunedin, NZ.
Rieth, T.M., P.R. Mills, S.P. Lundblad, A.E. Morrison, A. Johnson. 2013. Variation in Lithic Sources utilized by Late Pre-Contact Elites in Kona, Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaiian Archaeology 13:103-130.
Kahn, J.G., J.M. Sinton, P.R. Mills, and S.P. Lundblad. 2013. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis and Intra-Island Exchange in the Society Island Archipelago (Central Eastern Polynesia)._Journal of Archaeological Science_ 40:1194-1202.
Mills, P.R. 2013. Book Review: So Far from Home: Russians in Early California, by Glenn J. Farris, editor. 2012. Heyday and Santa Clara University. California Archaeology 5(1):129-131.
Stevenson, C.M. and P.R. Mills. 2013. A Chronometric Tool for Hawaiian archaeology: the hydration dating of Puʻu Waʻawaʻa trachytic glass. Journal of Archaeological Science. 40(2013):405-415.
Staley, D.P., P.R. Mills and S.P. Lundblad. 2012. "I trust there will be no failure...": The importance of Bricks and Brickmaking at the Adirondack Iron and Steel Company’s Upper Works. The Journal of the Society For Industrial Archaeology 38(1):5-26.
Kirch, P.V., P.R. Mills, S.P. Lundblad, J. Sinton,. and J.G. Kahn. 2012. Interpolity exchange of basalt tools facilitated via elite control in Hawaiian archaic states Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109(4):1056-1061.
Mintmier, M.A., P.R. Mills, S.P. Lundblad. 2012. Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Haleakalā Basalt Adze Quarry Materials, Maui, Hawaiʻi, Journal of Archaeological Science 39(3):615-623.
Mills, P.R., S.P. Lundblad, K. Hon, J.J. Moniz-Nakamura, #L.K. Kahahane, #A. Drake-Raue, #T.M. Souza and #R. Wei. 2011. Reappraising craft specialization and exchange in pre-contact Hawaiʻi through non-destructive sourcing of basalt adze debitage, Journal of Pacific Archaeology 2(2):79–92.
McCoy, M.D., P.R. Mills, S.P. Lundblad, T. Rieth, J. G. Kahn, R. Gard. 2011. A Cost Surface Model of Volcanic Glass Quarrying and Exchange in Hawaiʻi. Journal of Archaeological Science 38:2547-2560.
Lundblad. S.P., P.R. Mills, #A. Drake-Raue, S. K. Kikiloi. 2011. Non-destructive EDXRF analyses of archaeological basalts. In X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry in Geoarchaeology, pp. 65-80, edited by M. Steven Shackley. Natural Sciences in Archaeology Series. Springer Press, North America.
Mills, P.R., S.P. Lundblad, J.S. Field, A.B. Carpenter, W.K. McElroy, and #P. Rossi. 2010. Geochemical sourcing of basalt artifacts from Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands. Journal of Archaeological Science 37:(1):3385-3393.
Addison, David, Bryon Bass, Carl Christensen, John Kalolo, Steve Lundblad, Peter Mills, Fiona Petchey, and Adam Thompson. 2009. Archaeology of Atafu, Tokelau: some initial results from 2008. Rapa Nui Journal 23(1): 5-9.
Mills, Peter R. 2009. Folk Housing in the Middle of the Pacific: Lime Architecture, Cultural Power and Ideology in 19th century Hawaii. In Materiality of Individuality, pp. 75-91, edited by Carolyn White. Springer Press, North America.
Kahn, Jennifer G., Peter Mills, Steve Lundblad, John Holson, and Patrick Kirch. 2008. Tool Production at the Nuʻu Quarry, Maui, Hawaiian Islands: Manufacturing Sequences and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Analyses. New Zealand Journal of Archaeology 30:135-165.
Mills, Peter R. 2008. European Exploration and Colonization of the Hawaiian Islands. In Archaeology in America, Vol. 4, pp. 131-134, edited by Francis P. McManamon, Linda S. Cordell, Kent G. Lightfoot, and George R. Milner. Greenwood Press.
Mills, Peter R. 2008. Kauaʻi Island Ancient and Historical Sites. In Archaeology in America, Vol. 4, pp. 142-144, edited by Francis P. McManamon, Linda S. Cordell, Kent G. Lightfoot, and George R. Milner. Greenwood Press.
Mills, Peter R., Steven P. Lundblad, #Jacob G. Smith, Patrick C. McCoy, and #Sean P. Naleimaile. 2008. Science and Sensitivity: A Geochemical Characterization of the Mauna Kea Adze Quarry Complex, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi. American Antiquity 73(4):743-758.
Lundblad, Steven P., Peter R. Mills and Ken Hon. 2008. Analyzing Archaeological Basalt Using Non-destructive Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF): Effects of Post-depositional Chemical Weathering and Sample Size on Analytical Precision_. Archaeometry_ 50(1):1-11.
Mills, Peter R. and Steven P. Lundblad. 2006. Preliminary Field Report: The Geochemistry of the Koʻokoʻolau Complex, Mauna Kea Adze Quarry (50-10-23-4136) TMK:4-4-15:10 Report prepared for the Hawaii Natural Area Reserves System (NARS) Commission. University of Hawaii, Hilo.
Mills, Peter R. 2005. Connecting with Kauaʻi’s Canyonlands. In Nā Mea Kahiko o Kauaʻi: Archaeological Studies of Kauaʻi, edited by Mike T. Carson and Michael W. Graves. Special Publication No. 2. Society for Hawaiian Archaeology, Honolulu.
Mills, Peter R. 2004. Book Review: Inventing Politics by Juri Mykkanen (UH Press 2003). Hawaiian Journal of History 38:191-195.
Mills, Peter R. 2004. Response to Lydia Black. Hawaiian Journal of History 38:182-186.
Mills, Peter R. 2003. Laupāhoehoe Nui: Archaeology of a High-risk Landscape on Windward Hawaiʻi Island. Rapa Nui Journal 17(2):106-114.
Mills, Peter R. 2003. Neo in Oceania: foreign vessels owned by Hawaiian chiefs before 1830. Journal of Pacific History 38(1):53-67.
Mills, Peter R. 2002. Social Integration and the Ala Loa: reconsidering the significance of trails in Hawaiian exchange. Asian Perspectives 41(1):148-166.
Mills, Peter R. 2002. Hawaiʻi's Russian Adventure: A New Look at Old History. University of Hawaiʻi Press, Honolulu. (310 pp.) ISBN 10: 08248-2404-0; 13: 978-0824824044
Mills, Peter R. 2002. Speaking up for Small Fish in the Big Pond: Establishing a Mission for UH Hilo in Pacific Archaeology. Proceedings of the Pacific 2000 Conference, Easter Island Foundation, Los Osos, California.
Mills, Peter R. and #Manije Irani. 2000. A Walk Through History: Pedestrian Survey of the Old Government Beach Road, Honalo to Honuaʻino, North Kona, Hawaiʻi Island. 2 vols (174 pp). Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Trails and Access Program (Na Ala Hele), Honolulu.
Mills, Peter R. 1997. Slate and Ethnicity at Fort Ross (Chapter 10). In The Archaeology and Ethnohistory of Fort Ross, California, Vol 2, pp. 238-247, edited by Kent. G. Lightfoot. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Berkeley, California.
Mills, Peter R., and Antoinette Martinez (eds) .1997. The Archaeology of Russian Colonialism in the North and Tropical Pacific. Kroeber Anthropological Society Papers, No, 81 (194 pp.).
Lightfoot, Kent G., Ann M. Schiff, Antoinette Martinez, Thomas A. Wake, Stephen Silliman, Peter R. Mills, and Lisa Holm. 1997. Culture Change and Persistence in the Daily Lifeways of Interethnic Households. In Volume II of T_he Archaeology and Ethnohistory of Fort Ross, California_, edited by Kent. G. Lightfoot. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility, pp. 355-419, Berkeley, California.
Stevenson, Christopher M., Sonia Haoa, Peter Mills, Jose R. Ramirez, and Claudio Gomez.
1996. The La Perouse Archaeological Project: Report of the 1995 Field Season, Easter Island. Archaeological Services Consultants, Columbus, Ohio.
Mills, Peter R. 1996. A New View of Kauaʻi as "The Separate Kingdom" after 1810. The Hawaiian Journal of History 30:91-104.
Mills, Peter R. 1993 An Axe to Grind: Functional Analysis of Anasazi Stone Axes from Sand Canyon Pueblo Ruin (5-MT-765), Southwestern, Colorado. Kiva 58(3)393-413.
