Justin Pargeter

Justin Pargeter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at New York University and holds external roles as Senior Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg’s Palaeo-Research Institute and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Rock Art Research Institute. His research focuses on human biocultural evolution through the interplay of technology, cognition, and environmental change in the Pleistocene archaeological record. Key areas include stone tool technology, experimental archaeology, and hunter-gatherer adaptations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Current projects include the Cango Valley Archaeology and Paleoscape Project examining Boomplaas Cave’s role in human-environment interactions, and the P5 Pondoland Coastal Foraging project investigating coastal foraging practices. He leads studies on neuroplasticity during stone tool skill acquisition and cultural drivers of biological regionalization in the Zambezian Biome. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary methods combining experimental archaeology, paleoenvironmental modeling, and public outreach initiatives like the Archaeology in Action comics project.

Pargeter collaborates internationally on projects funded by NSF, National Geographic, and the Leakey Foundation. His research spans fieldwork in South Africa, experimental studies on tool production, and theoretical work on lithic analysis replicability. He also promotes STEM equity through platforms like My So-Called Lab and open-access resources for global students.