John Kiernan: Biography

John Kiernan is a retired MSgt/First Sergeant after over 24 years of service in the USAF. He grew up on ranches in Western Nebraska and Eastern Colorado where he first discovered the stone artifacts of our prehistoric ancestors. Although finding artifacts was exciting, his natural curiosity, coupled with love of learning and working with his hands, drove him to try and discover how to replicate the tools and projectile points he was finding. This same desire led to a love of New and Old world archaeology (particularly Paleo Indian in North America and Mesolithic, Neolithic thru the Viking period in Northern Europe/Scandinavia). John’s ability to, and knowledge of the replication stone tools has led to his lithic artwork being featured in many prominent publication as well as his being sought to lecture at many archaeological dig sites and several institutes of higher learning. He has countless hours conducting archaeological field work (excavation) and in the laboratory leading artifact identification. Since his retirement from the military John spends most of the summer in Scandinavia doing both experimental archaeology and living history of both Prehistoric and Viking times.