Ahmet Cem ERKMAN

Ahmet Cem ERKMAN is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Ahi Evran University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He holds a PhD in Paleoanthropology from Ankara University (2008), a Master's in Paleoanthropology (1997) and Economics (2023), and Bachelor's degrees in Anthropology (Ankara University, 1990) and Economics (Anadolu University, 1995). He has been a full-time faculty member since 2009, progressing from Assistant to Associate Professor before attaining his current rank in 2020.

His research focuses on Archaeometry, Physical Anthropology, and Primatology, with emphasis on bioarchaeological analysis of ancient Anatolian populations, dental pathologies, trauma patterns, and Miocene vertebrate paleontology. His work integrates field excavations (e.g., Kurutlu Fossil Locality) with interdisciplinary approaches to reconstruct paleoecology and human lifeways.

Publications (2019–2025) reveal trends in dental paleopathology (enamel hypoplasia, caries), fossil mammalogy (proboscideans, suids), and bioarchaeometry (stature estimation, trauma analysis). These reflect a consistent focus on Anatolian populations from the Neolithic to Byzantine periods, leveraging osteological, radiological, and geochemical methods.

He has advised 15 graduate students on topics including paleoanthropology, zooarchaeology, and dental anthropology. He directs 70+ projects, notably the ongoing Kurutlu Anthropological Excavation and collaborations like the Middle Awash Project (Ethiopia). His grants include support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

He leads the Kurutlu excavation team, coordinating multidisciplinary research in paleontology and archaeology. He has collaborated internationally (e.g., HERC at UC Berkeley) and participated in 22 scientific missions across Turkey.