Mary Otu (b. 1995) is a Nigerian archaeologist and historian. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in History and International Studies from the University of Calabar (2015–2019). With a strong interest in African material culture and community heritage, she pursued a Master’s degree in Archaeology at the University of Ibadan (2022–2024), completing a thesis on the cultural narratives and material history of the Nkunkundah Monolith site in Cross River State, Nigeria.
Her growing interest in digital heritage and community-based research was shaped during her postgraduate training and strengthened through field projects across southwestern Nigeria. She has served as a research assistant on the Ife-Sungbo Archaeological Project and the Ife Glass Bead Project collaborations involving institutions such as the British Museum and the College of William and Mary. In 2023, she was awarded the High-Level Scientific Stay Scholarship (SSHN) and conducted research at the University of Caen, France, where she worked with Anne Liénard and Cécile Chapelain to investigate a sample of ceramic sherds from Oduduwa college II in Ife, Nigeria, West Africa.
Mary has participated in diverse archaeological projects and collaborations that blend fieldwork with digital heritage. In 2023-2024, she worked with the Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique (IFRA-Nigeria) on the digitization of religious architectural heritage in Ibadan using GIS technologies, combining spatial analysis with heritage preservation and documentation. Her experience in digital heritage continued to develop through hands-on work with tools such as Story Maps and photogrammetry.
Mary’s academic work bridges field archaeology, community engagement, and digital technologies such as GIS, StoryMaps, and photogrammetry. Her interests lie at the intersection of prehistoric archaeology, ethnoarchaeology, and the use of digital tools to support inclusive heritage management.
“I am eager to collaborate with archaeologists, ethnoarchaeologists, and digital heritage specialists from around the world to broaden my perspective and contribute to interdisciplinary research”.
Education
MA Archaeology from the University of Ibadan
Present Status
I recently got admitted in the Ohio State University for a doctorate degree in Anthropology to resume in August, 2025.