Dr. Dale F. Simpson Jr. is an anthropological archaeologist with over 20 years of professional experience and more than 16 years of teaching in higher education. His work bridges the humanities and STEAM education through archaeology, outreach, and applied research.

Dr. Simpson has conducted archaeological research in the United States, Canada, Russia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaiʻi, Australia, and Easter Island (Rapa Nui). He is Director of the Rapa Nui Geochemical Project and Illinois Simpson Archaeology, and has worked with institutions including the Field Museum of Natural History and the University of Queensland.

Since 2001, Dr. Simpson’s research has focused on Rapa Nui, with publications and presentations on its archaeology, geochemistry, material culture, and monumental architecture. His doctoral research examined ancient Rapa Nui social and economic interaction through the movement of basalt across the island.

Dr. Simpson also brings extensive experience in cultural resource management, serving as a subject-matter expert for Section 106 compliance and Section 707 coordination in support of statewide transportation projects. His work emphasizes early identification of cultural resource concerns, regulatory consistency, and effective interagency coordination.

He is Editor-in-Chief of Illinois Antiquity, a Registered Professional Archaeologist, a member of the Illinois National Register Advisory Council and a Board Member for the Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology and the Chicago Archaeological Society. 

• 2019 Doctor of Philosophy: University of Queensland – Australia
• 2008 Master of Arts (First Class Honours): University of Auckland – New Zealand
• 2007 Postgraduate Diploma of Arts (With Merit and Distinction): University of Auckland – New Zealand
• 2002 Bachelor of Arts (Advanced): University of Manitoba – Canada

• College of DuPage: 1000 Introduction to Anthropology; 1100 Cultural Anthropology; 1120 Discovering Archaeology; 1130 People and Cultures of the World: The Pacific; 1840 Independent Study
• Malcolm X College: 202 Cultural Anthropology 
• North Central College: 165 Stones and Bones; 295 Research Practicum; 332 Forensic Anthropology; 355 Native Nations-North America; 385 Anthropology of Place: Oceania; 470 Solving Environmental Problems; 499 Independent Research Project 
• Northern Illinois University: 210 Exploring Archaeology; 413 (undergraduate)/513 (graduate) Illinois Archaeology
• Elgin Community College: 116 Human Geography; 210 General Prehistoric Archaeology

• Simpson Jr., D.F.,   Costanzo, A., Evans, M. (2025). Establishing the oldest date of human activity for Lombard, IL—Working with a museum legacy collection to register the Mrs. Gary Site (11DU629). Illinois Antiquity 60(4):5-8.
• Wilson-Dooley, A., Simpson Jr., D.F. (2025). A banner year at the 2025 Illinois State Fair—Fulfilling IAAA's public outreach mission. Illinois Antiquity 60(4):15–18.
• Simpson Jr., D.F. (2025). Tales and Trails: A report from the 2025 Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology Annual Meeting. Illinois Antiquity 60(2):13-15.
• Simpson Jr., D.F., Horsley, T., Howser, L., Wehrli, M. (2024). Great Scott! – Using non-invasive geophysical prospection, field survey, and genealogical and historical research to rediscover the Scott Cabin (1830), Naperville’s first single-family pioneer home. Rediscovery Vol 8: 84-101.
• Simpson Jr., D.F. (2024). La minería polinesia en un aislamiento extremo: Canteras, fuentes, minas y talleres de basalto en Rapa Nui. Boletín de la Sociedad Chilena de Arqueología 56:233-262.
• Emerick, N., Edwards, J.L., Nolan, D.J., Roberts, A.N., Simpson Jr., D.F. (2024).  Putting dots on a map – Using avocational and professional collaboration to register the Emerick collection and sites 11KX335 and 11KX336. Illinois Antiquity 59(3): 10-14.
• Huke, M., Simpson Jr., D.F., Vasquez Hulsbus, M. (2023). Atlas arqueológica de Rapa Nui Pehuén. Santiago, Chile 
• Simpson Jr., D.F. and Lobos Haoa, V. (2022). Rapa Nui’s Quarries. Rapa Nui Press. Santiago, Chile. 
• Simpson Jr., D.F. (2022). La economía política de piedras arqueológicas en Rapa Nui: Identificación de las interacciones económicas, ideológicas y sociopolíticas del período pre-contacto en Rapa Nui. Bajo la Lupa: Investigación de colecciones patrimoniales del servicio nacional del patrimonio cultural.
• Simpson Jr., D.F., Van Tilburg, J.A., Dussubieux, L. (2018). Toki (adze) and pick production during peak moai (statue) manufacture: Geochemical and radiometric analyses reveal prehistoric provenance, timing, and use of Easter Island’s fine–grain basalt resources. Journal of Pacific Archaeology, 9(2): 12–34.
• Simpson Jr., D.F., Dussubieux, L. (2018). A collapsed narrative? Geochemistry and spatial distribution of basalt quarries and fine–grained artifacts reveal communal use of stone on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 18: 370–385. 
• Simpson Jr. D.F., Weisler, M.I., St. Pierre, E., Feng, Y. Bolhar, R. (2017). Archaeological documentation and high–precision geochemistry of the Rua Tokitoki adze quarry and Poike’s fine–grain basalt source on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Archaeology in Oceania. 53(1): 15–27. 
• Simpson Jr. D.F. (2016). Minas, canteras y artefactos de basalto: Investigación científica aprobada por la comunidad Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua). Annales del Museo de Historia Natural de Valparaíso 29: 120–131.
• Larsen, A., Simpson Jr. D.F. (2014). A Comment to Rull et al. (2013)—Challenging Easter Island's Collapse: the need for interdisciplinary synergies. Frontiers in Evolution and Ecology 2: 56–57. 

• Register of Professional Archaeologists - Professional archaeologist
• Illinois Archaeological Survey - Member
• Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology - Editor, Board member, and Member
• Chicago Archaeological Society - Board member and Member