The Global Dynamics of Inequality Project, sponsored by the Coalition for Archaeological Synthesis through NSF, has by all measures been very successful, in terms of publications, awards, and on-going collaborations. What was it about this working group that made it successful? In this presentation, I go beyond the research itself to consider some of the social, logistical, and practical aspects of the project that made it work so well. One important aspect was the process through which the working group came together, which ensured a combination of existing collaborators and individuals who had not worked together previously became part of the team. A second was the mix of periodic in-person meetings and regular remote meetings, which kept everyone engaged. A third was the structure of the working group, which included core and extended members, ensuring there was always a quorum available for project activities. A final ingredient was the character of project leadership, which included effective communication, reasonable workplans, and data integration support. All of these and more were necessary for the project to be successful.

First Author: Scott Ortman

Keywords:
Archaeological Synthesis
Inequality
Residential Architecture
Interdisciplinarity