Personal Summary

My current scholarship involves the application of ground penetrating radar and total field magnetometry for archaeological targets. Much of that work involves applied projects directed at answering specific archaeological questions using radar, magnetometry, and/or electrical resistivity. My contributions over the years also include commercial gravity/magnetic programming and software, academic publications, and numerous private and public project reports. I maintain a strong interest and expertise in magnetics and gravity applied to crustal tectonics, orogenic events, and exploration in the energy and minerals industry.

Education

Ph.D., University of Wyoming 1981. Geology/Geophysics
M.S., Western Washington University 1976. Geology/Geophysics
B.A., Central Washington University 1973. Geology with distinction

Courses Taught

Most recent courses; pre-retirement but reflecting continuing contract/grant interests:

• Geoscience 436 - (Spring Semester) Subsurface Imaging for Archaeology
• Geoscience 439 - (Spring Semester) Applied Magnetics; Structure, Tectonics, and Exploration

Selected Publications

MacDonald, D. H., J. Gish, and S.D. Sheriff, in press 2013, Fishing Bridge Point (48YE381): A Stratified Prehistoric Site at Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, Plains Anthropologist v. 58.

S.D. Sheriff, 2013, Total Field Magnetic Exploration for Prehistoric Archaeological Sites along Yellowstone Lake’s Northwest Shore, to be published in Yellowstone Archaeology, Volume II: Southern Yellowstone; Edited by D. H. MacDonald and E. S. Hale; The University of Montana Department of Anthropology Contributions to Archaeology, Volume 13.

McIntyre, J. and S.D. Sheriff, 2013, Yellowstone Lake: Dynamic Shorelines, GIS, and Predicting Archaeological Sites, to be published in Yellowstone Archaeology, Volume II: Southern Yellowstone; Edited by D. H. MacDonald and E. S. Hale; The University of Montana Department of Anthropology Contributions to Archaeology, Volume 13.

MacDonald, D., L.Smith, M.Livers, S.Sheriff, J. Moschelle, M.Pable, and J.Gish, 2012, Archaeology of the Little Trail Creek Site (24PA1081), Gardiner, Montana. Montana Archaeological Society, Abstracts and program, April 2012.

S.D. Sheriff, 2011, Archaeological Geophysics, Forensic Applications: Buried Weapons, Illicit Caches, and Shallow Graves, Invited Presentation: FBI National Training Academy, Bozeman Montana, April 26, 2011.

S.D. Sheriff, D.MacDonald, 2011, Total Field Magnetics and Exploration for Paleoindian to Plains-Culture Targets; Yellowstone National Park, USA. In Archaeological Prospection: Extended Abstracts for 9th International Conference on Archaeological Prospection, p. 244-248. edited by M. G. Drahor and M.Berge

S.D. Sheriff, 2011, Total Field Magnetic Experiments at a Historic Town Site, Yellowstone National Park, USA: Aeromagnetic Techniques and Archaeological Targets, in Yellowstone Archaeology, v. 1 Northern Yellowstone, E. Hale and D. MacDonald editors, UM Department of Anthropolgy Contributions to Archaeology, v. 13, 143 p.

R.C. O’Boyle, S. D. Sheriff, A.M. Prentiss, and V.M.W. O’Boyle, 2011, At the Rim: magnetometry, archaeology, and a site in danger at Kevin Rim. Montana Archaeological Society, Abstracts and program, April 2011.

S.D. Sheriff, 2011, Imaging Graves and Stone Rings at Depth: Recent Magnetic and Radar Results from Montana and Idaho. Montana Archaeological Society, Abstracts and Program, April 2011

S.D. Sheriff, 2010, Archaeological Geophysics – A Quick Look. Presented at: Cultural Resource Management Training Workshop on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Stone Child College, April 28-30th, 2010, funded by the National Park Service and State Historical Preservation Office

S.D. Sheriff, 2010, Matched Filter Separation of Magnetic Anomalies Caused by Scattered Surface Debris at Archaeological Sites. Near Surface Geophysics, V. 8 #2, p. 145-150

S.D. Sheriff, July 2010, In search of a Historic Grave: GPR Investigation near the Yellowstone Lake Store. Report submitted to Yellowstone National Park in conjunction with ongoing archaeological field work by Dr. D. MacDonald director Montana Yellowstone Archaeology Project.

McIntyre, J. and S.D. Sheriff, 2010, Yellowstone Lake: Dynamic Shorelines, GIS, and site prediction for the Montana Yellowstone Archaeology Project. State Historical Society of North Dakota 68th Annual Plains Anthropological Conference, Bismarck ND, 10/6/2010

S.D. Sheriff, D.MacDonald, 2010, Total Field Magnetic, Radar, and Archaeological Studies on the Shores of Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, USA. International Society of Archaeological Prospection (ISAP) newsletter, v. 23, April 2010, p.3-5

S.D. Sheriff, D. MacDonald, D. Dick, 2010, Decorrugation, Edge Detection, and Modeling of Total Field Magnetic Observations from a Historic Town Site, Yellowstone National Park, USA. Archaeological Prospection; V17, #1, p. 49-60

S.D. Sheriff, July 2010, Ground Penetrating Radar on the East Entrance Road near Fishing Bridge, Yellowstone National Park, 11 p. Report submitted to Yellowstone National Park via Dr. D. MacDonald director Montana Yellowstone Archaeology Project

S.D. Sheriff, June 2010, Ground Penetrating Radar and Total Field Magnetic Investigations for the Rental Trailer Court Utilities Project, Fishing Bridge, Yellowstone National Park, 15 p. Report submitted to Yellowstone National Park via Dr. D. MacDonald director Montana Yellowstone Archaeology Project

Spritzer, J.M., S.D. Sheriff, and N.W. Hinman, 2008, Interpreting Faults and Fractures in Hydrothermal Basins With High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Data in Yellowstone National Park. EOS Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 89(53), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract # GP43B-0817.

Affiliations

The American Geophysical Union – Lifetime Member

Society of Exploration Geophysicists

International Society of Archaeological Prospection

Montana Archaeology Society

American Alpine Club

Alpine Club of Canada

Specialized Skills

Archaeological geophysics and magnetic and gravity exploration in the energy and minerals arenas.

Fulbright Specialists Roster, US Department of State – Archaeological Geophysicist

International Experience

Research and academics has landed me in the Antarctic, Boliva, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Ireland, the Phillipines, and the United Arab Emirates. Climbing trips adds Australia, New Zealand, the Canadian Arctic, England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, and Austria.

Hobbies

Alpine climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain/road/cross biking