Michael (Mike) P. Betsinger is a historical archaeologist focusing primarily on labor and industrial society. His dissertation examined the relationship between liquor businesses known as saloons and transient laborers in Fargo, ND, and Moorhead, MN, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In addition to archaeology, Mike is also interested in cemetery preservation, community heritage, architectural history, and traditional trades. Overall, Mike's research is centered on preserving and interpreting "history from the bottom up" by focusing on working class and marginalized people. 

At OSA, Mike leads contract-funded field surveys and specializes in historical archaeology.

Research Areas:

• Midwest archaeology
• Historical archaeology
• Labor history
• Glass analysis