Adult Lecture Series

Sauropod dinosaurs dominated land ecosystems for 160 million years, growing up to 49 meters long and 57 metric tons. Jeff Wilson Mantilla will explore the biological challenges of their massive size.

Dr. Mantilla is a vertebrate paleontologist who studies the evolution of sauropod dinosaurs and the paleobiogeography of the Indian subcontinent. His work examines how external factors such as tectonics and body size influenced evolution. His research is specimen-based, balancing empirical studies with theoretical approaches. He leads ongoing field projects in India and South America focused on these topics.

Petra has captivated adventurers, scholars, and moviegoers since the 1800s. Dr. Allison Lee shares insights into its rich history and her fieldwork at this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. from Durham University in the United Kingdom and teaches anthropology at Brigham Young University. She co-directed the BYU Archaeology in Petra Field School in 2024 and served as assistant director for the Ad-Deir Monument and Plateau Project. Her archaeological fieldwork includes sites in the United Kingdom, Jordan, Syria, Utah, and Nevada, where she assisted the US Forest Service. Her research interests include Near Eastern archaeology, archaeological theory and methods, site formation processes, GIS applications, predictive modeling, and heritage management.