A book that helps researchers graph complex connections between people, landscape and artifacts has recently been co-edited by Mesa Community College professor Kirk Costion.

Costion has co-edited the new archaeology book "Modeling Cross-Cultural Interaction in Ancient Borderlands" along with Ulrike Matthies Green, who is an anthropology instructor at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California.

The book uses the Cross-Cultural Interaction Model (CCIM) to allow archaeologists to visually show the exchanges among different cultures in borderland areas or across long distances, according to Costion. 

“We kept trying to describe things verbally, but wished we had a way to graphically demonstrate the interactions so we could put it up on a screen,” Costion said in a statement.  

According to Costion, he has received positive feedback from other archaeologists who are studying cultural interaction and says that next summer he plans to return to southern Peru to participate in further research.

“Peru is a great place to do archeology,” Costion said in the Chamber piece. “You feel like part of the community. Also, I do think being active in the field helps my teaching," he said.