Tobin Hartnell

Tobin Hartnell is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani. As an archaeologist with two decades of fieldwork experience in Australia and the Middle East, he specializes in the local politics and economic systems of the ancient Mesopotamian and Persian Empires.

• Education: Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Chicago
• Leadership: Founding Director of AUIS's Center of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (CACHE)

Dr. Hartnell’s research focuses on the Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE), with recent work published in the Journal of Ancient History. His scholarly contributions include studies on agricultural practices in ancient Persis, excavation techniques at Mesopotamian sites like Hamoukar, and material culture analysis of artifacts from Sharm.

His academic output spans topics such as economic archaeology, urban development, and pre-Islamic Arabian art, reflecting a commitment to uncovering the socio-political dynamics of ancient civilizations through fieldwork and artifact analysis.

Leadership: He established AUIS's Center of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (CACHE), advancing research and preservation efforts in the region.