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Meet The Team

The Team

David Harder M.A., R.P.A.

Principal Investigator

Adam Sackman M.A., R.P.A.

Project Manager & GIS Specialist

Samantha Fulgham M.A.

Project Archaeologist- Precision Services Lead

Justin Fitzpatrick M.S.

Essential Services Director

Emily Whistler M.A., R.P.A.

Project Archaeologist- Sustained Services Lead

Jenny Harder

Human Resources

Josh Espen M.Sc.

Field Archaeologist

Sean Coan

Technical Editor/Reporter Production Specialist

Daisy Sulavik

Field Technician

Kian Haupt

Field Technician

Elizabeth G. Wilmerding, Ph. D.

Research Archaeologist

Jade Payne

Field Technician

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If you are interested in employment with us and have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Anthropology and have attended an archaeological field school, please email a cover letter and resume in PDF format to David Harder.

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David Harder M.A., R.P.A.

Principal Investigator

Contact:

dharder@plateau-crm.com

509-336-1525

David grew in eastern Washington with an early exposure to archaeology and agriculture.  His familiarity with land use issues instilled in him a curiosity regarding indigenous subsistence and early historic settlement. This interest led to his undergraduate studies of archaeology and the pursuit and completion of a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology; specializing in archaeology. His studies emphasized Columbia Plateau archaeology and prehistory with a focus on the Lower Snake River.  He has received formal classroom and field training in many aspects of archaeological method, theory, and research including the Section 106 process, NEPA and historic properties, lithic analysis, faunal identification, and geo-archaeological method and theory.

David has enjoyed a 30 year career as a professional archaeologist, working predominately in the region populated by the Plateau Cultural groups. This has allowed him to follow his chosen vocation while using his multi-faceted knowledge of the region.  While conducting fieldwork for wastewater treatment plants and storm drains isn’t Indiana Jones level excitement, David is proud of the work that Plateau has completed in the region that has contributed to the quality of life in the region.

His family has always been involved in agriculture, especially sheep, cattle, and some crops in decades past.  His parents ventured into poultry and operated a hatchery and small butcher plant for many years. David’s favorite bird is the duck, both as farm livestock and when properly roasted, and is working with Ducks Unlimited to provide quality habitat on the family ranch southeast of Ritzville.  David currently lives in Pullman with his wife, Jenny. They have been challenged to keep up with their three boys through Scouts, snow skiing, and other outdoor pursuits, as well as the next phases of their lives in high school and college.

Adam Sackman M.A., R.P.A.

Project Manager and GIS Specialist

Contact:

asackman@plateau-crm.com

Adam joined the staff of Plateau Archaeological Investigations in 2015.  As a Project Archaeologist, his responsibilities include project management, communication with clients, research, fieldwork, site investigation, monitoring, and report preparation. As Plateau’s GIS Specialist, he is responsible for our GIS database, report maps, and other graphic preparation work.

Adam has field experience in the Inland Northwest and the Northwest Coast, and research experience in the United Kingdom. His research interests include religious identities, funerary practices, and the spread of infectious diseases.  He also has technical experience in landscape analysis, architectural analysis, GIS (multiple platforms), faunal analysis, and statistical analysis (STATA).

Samantha Fulgham M.A.

Project Archaeologist- Precision Services Lead

Contact:

sfulgham@plateau-crm.com

Samantha L. Fulgham, M.A., obtained her Master of Arts in Anthropology from WSU in 2019. Samantha is the Director of Precision Services at Plateau Archaeological Investigations. As Precision Services Director, her responsibilities include Project Management, Field Directing, research, fieldwork, permit writing, client and stakeholder consultation, and report preparation.

Since starting at Plateau in 2018, Samantha has had the opportunity to conduct archaeological field investigations throughout Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. She has completed and initiated a variety of Projects, including survey and testing, monitoring, and excavation work for a variety of clients. As Precision Services Director, Samantha has specialized in excavation projects, forest service projects, human remains recovery, and large-scale projects. Samantha has background in excavation, survey, tribal and agency consultation, curation preparation, and laboratory analysis of archaeological collections.

Justin Fitzpatrick M.S.

Essential Services Director

Contact:

jfitzpatrick@plateau-crm.com

Justin started at Plateau Archaeological Investigations in the winter of 2017.  As the Director of Essential Services and a Project Archaeologist, his responsibilities include research, fieldwork, and report preparation.  He has over seven years of experience conducting archaeology and cultural resource management.  Justin has led field investigations on over 140 projects and has supervised the completion of over 230 projects.

When he is traveling thought the Pacific Northwest and Montana, Justin likes to hike, fish, and learn all about the history of the region.

Emily Whistler M.A., R.P.A.

Project Archaeologist – Sustained Services

Contact:

ewhistler@plateau-crm.com

Emily L. Whistler is a native of California, and an enthusiastic Washington transplant since 2015.  Emily obtained her Master of Arts in Anthropology in 2015 from California State University, Los Angeles. There she focused on the historical ecology of human- bird interactions in the Channel Islands and the mainland coast of Southern California. Emily started at Plateau Archaeological Investigations in January 2020. During her time as a Field Archaeologist at Plateau, Emily has been involved in several field projects throughout eastern Washington. She currently leads Plateau’s Sustained Services division.

Josh Espen, M, Sc

Field Archaeologist

Contact:

jespen@plateau-crm.com

Josh began working for Plateau CRM in 2022.  As a Field Archaeologist, his responsibilities involve field-crew management, pedestrian survey, subsurface probing, excavation, and report preparation. 

Josh has field experience in both Ireland and the Inland Northwest.  He completed his master’s research at the Institute of Archaeology in the United Kingdom.  His research interests include the identification and quantification of faunal remains, local economic relationships, and seasonal resource uses.

As a Field Archaeologist for Plateau CRM, Josh has been involved in the fieldwork for over 45 projects and has been the field supervisor for over 25 projects.

Sean Coan

Technical Editor/Reporter Production Specialist

Contact:

scoan@plateau-crm.com

Sean M. Coan has been a team member at Plateau CRM since September 2022. A geologist and former environmental consultant, he has 14 years of experience in data analysis, technical writing and editing, navigating complex regulatory frameworks, and is dedicated to producing excellent deliverables.

Daisy Sulavik

Field Technician

Contact:

dsulavik1234@gmail.com

Daisy Sulavik is a graduate from Hamilton College with a B.A. in Geoarchaeology in January 2023. She joined Plateau in March of 2023. Her academic interests include geology, lithics, and foodways. Her responsibilities include both background research and fieldwork. In the field she assists with pedestrian surveys and excavations.

Kian Haupt

Field Technician

Contact:

khaupt@plateau-crm.com

Kian is originally from Spokane, Washington and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, minor and emphasis in Archaeology, from Eastern Washington University in 2022. They joined the Plateau team in June of 2022 as a Field Technician and assists with archaeological monitoring, pedestrian survey, probing, excavations, and report preparation.

Elizabeth G. Wilmerding, Ph. D.

Research Archaeologist

Contact:

lwilmerding@plateau-crm.com

Elizabeth joined the staff of Plateau CRM in 2021.  As a Research Archaeologist, her responsibilities include writing reports and writing background material in history, ethnography, and environment.  She also does lithic analysis for collections recovered in the field.  In addition, she sometimes does monitoring and excavation.

Elizabeth has a PhD in archaeology from Washington State University and has field experience in the Inland Northwest, Coastal Washington, Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands.  Her research interests include history of the northwest, Native American basketry, and lithic debris.

Jade Payne

Field Technician

Contact:

jpayne@plateau-crm.com.

In the fall of 2017, Jade moved to the Palouse from Vancouver, WA to attend Washington State University. Jade began working at Plateau in May of 2022 just after graduating from WSU with a B.A. in Anthropology. Her interests include lithic identification and curation. Jade’s responsibilities as a field technician include leading field crews, excavation, archaeological monitoring, subsurface probing, pedestrian survey, and report preparation.

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