Find Academic Supervisors

Jason M. LaBelleView profile

Professor

• Environmental and Landscape Archaeology
• Peopling of the Americas
• Contact Era Studies
• +4 more

Jason M. LaBelle is a Professor of Anthropology at Colorado State University (CSU), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. He serves as Director of the Center for Mountain and Plains Archaeology (CMPA) and Curator of the Archaeological Repository of CSU (AR-CSU). His research focuses on hunter-gatherer societies, particularly in the Intermountain West, emphasizing subsistence, mobility, and pre/post-contact Native American cultures. His work spans environments from the Great Plains to high alpine regions, with specialties in Clovis/Folsom cultures, communal hunting practices, and lithic technology. LaBelle teaches courses in archaeology, lithic technology, and public archaeology. He oversees CMPA projects funded by federal agencies like the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, supporting student training in fieldwork, lab analysis (lithics, faunal studies), and report writing. His lab houses extensive collections from Colorado’s South Platte and Colorado River Basins, including alpine artifacts. He actively engages with tribal partners and the public through outreach, conferences, and NAGPRA coordination. LaBelle’s recent research includes studies on lithic quarries, ice patch archaeology, and Bayesian chronology modeling. His publications address prehistoric mobility, site chronology, and cultural resource management. He values interdisciplinary collaboration and student mentorship, aiming to bridge academic and applied archaeology.

Radu IovitaView profile

Associate Professor

• Paleolithic Archaeology
• Human Responses to Environmental Change
• Eurasian Loess Steppe
• +5 more

Radu Iovita is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at New York University. Previously, he held positions at the University of Tübingen (until 2023) and the Leibniz Research Institute for Archaeology in Germany. His research focuses on Paleolithic archaeology, human-environmental interactions, and stone tool technology, with a specific emphasis on the Eurasian loess steppe. He leads the EU-funded PALAEOSILKROAD project in Kazakhstan, investigating human dispersals during the Late Pleistocene. His Anthrotopography lab combines microscopic analysis of tool use and remote sensing to reconstruct past landscapes. Education: PhD in Anthropology (University of Pennsylvania, 2008), MPhil in Archaeology (University of Cambridge, 2002), AB in Anthropology (Harvard University, 2001). Key grants include an ERC Starting Grant (2017–2022). Research interests span lithic technology, experimental archaeology, and geoarchaeological methods. Recent work includes discoveries of Paleolithic sites in Kazakhstan, studies on Neanderthal adhesive use, and AI-driven analysis of use-wear patterns. Collaborations involve institutions like ETH Zurich and the University of Tübingen. He is actively involved in field projects in Central Asia and lab-based experimental studies.

Alastair KeyView profile

Research Fellow

• Paleolithic Archaeology
• Stone Tool Technology
• Hominin Behavior
• +3 more

Dr. Alastair Key serves as Director of Studies in Archaeology and Official Fellow in Archaeology at Queens' College, University of Cambridge. His research bridges Paleolithic archaeology, stone tool technology, and hominin behavioral evolution through experimental and computational approaches. Director of Studies and Official Fellow at Queens' College, Cambridge Specializes in Paleolithic stone tool analysis, Acheulean technology, and hominin adaptation Conducts experimental archaeology and computational modelling to assess tool functionality Key's research focuses on Acheulean handaxe production , lithic microwear patterns , and ergonomic constraints in prehistoric tool use . He has extensively published on topics including glacial-stage hominin occupations , Oldowan toolmakers , and machine learning applications to archaeological analysis . His recent publications (2025-2023) span diverse subfields: Acheulean chronology , hominin tool use biomechanics , experimental projectile testing , and computational morphometric methods . The work often integrates multidisciplinary datasets and open-source analytical tools to address fundamental questions about human technological evolution. Current research directions include stone tool sharpness quantification , handaxe social signaling potential , and cross-species tool use comparisons through primate studies.

Hsueh-man ShenView profile

Associate Professor

• Medieval Chinese Art and Archaeology
• Cross-Cultural Exchanges
• Buddhist Art
• +3 more

Hsueh-man Shen is the Director of Masters Studies and Ehrenkranz Associate Professor in World Art at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. She holds a D.Phil. from Oxford University in Archaeology, an M.A. in Art History from National Taiwan University, and an LL.B. in Law from the same institution. Her research focuses on medieval Chinese art and archaeology, particularly how cross-cultural exchanges shaped artistic practices through translation, replication, and hybridization. She has curated major exhibitions such as Gilded Splendor: Treasures of China’s Liao Empire (2006) and contributed to the Cave Temples of Dunhuang project (2016), emphasizing Silk Road cultural networks. Her current book project explores maritime activities’ impact on Buddhist art during the 10th–14th centuries. Shen’s work bridges art history, archaeology, and material culture studies, addressing topics like relic deposits, shipwrecks, and cross-cultural curatorial practices. She has held prestigious fellowships, including the Leiden University Hulsewé-Waznieski Professorship (2019) and a Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin residency (2008–2009). Education: D.Phil., Archaeology, University of Oxford M.A., Art History, National Taiwan University LL.B., Law, National Taiwan University Her research interests include Buddhist art’s transformation across dynasties, the role of replication in devotion, and maritime trade’s influence on cultural boundaries. She teaches courses such as Colors in the Visual Culture of Medieval China and Shipwrecks and the ‘Other’ Silk Road , integrating theoretical and material perspectives. Shen’s awards reflect her global academic contributions, including the EURIAS Senior Fellowship (2018–2019) and Progress 100 Visiting Professorship at Kyushu University (2017). Her publications span exhibition catalogues, monographs like Authentic Replicas: Buddhist Art in Medieval China (2019), and peer-reviewed articles analyzing Silk Road networks, Liao dynasty funerary practices, and cross-cultural material exchanges.

Thomas F. StrasserView profile

Professor

• Aegean Bronze Age
• Greek Archaeology
• Mediterranean Prehistory
• +3 more

Thomas F. Strasser is Professor of Art History at Providence College, specializing in Greek archaeology with expertise in Minoan Crete. He earned his PhD in Classical Archaeology from Indiana University and has conducted fieldwork in Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey for over two decades. Strasser's research reinterprets Bronze Age frescoes and investigates early Mediterranean seafaring through his Plakias Stone Age Project. His courses explore the art and archaeology of ancient Iraq, Egypt, and classical civilizations. Strasser received the 2021 Outstanding Faculty Scholar Award and leads student excavations on Crete. Recent publications examine Paleolithic tool assemblages challenging conventional timelines of Mediterranean colonization and geological elements in Theran wall paintings. His fieldwork continues to uncover evidence of Mesolithic habitation in southern Crete.

Seth BernardView profile

Professor

• Ancient History
• Roman Archaeology
• Social and Economic History
• +4 more

Seth Bernard is a Professor of Classics at the University of Toronto, specializing in Roman social and economic history, Roman archaeology, and the application of scientific methods to historical studies. He holds a PhD in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania and has been affiliated with institutions such as the American School for Classical Studies at Athens and the American Academy in Rome. His research integrates archaeology, anthropology, and environmental science to explore pre-Imperial and Republican Italy, focusing on labor, urbanization, and historical culture. Education includes a BA in Classics from Amherst College and a PhD in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania. He has led major projects like the Falerii Novi excavation in Italy, investigating Roman urbanism and environmental history. His work has been supported by grants from SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), including a Connection Grant and an Insight Grant. Research interests include the economic foundations of Roman imperialism, climate history, and the role of slavery in ancient economies. Notable publications include Building Mid-Republican Rome (2018), Historical Culture in Iron Age Italy (2023), and co-edited volumes on the Middle Republic and Greco-Roman economic models. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Roman Archaeology and editorial board member of the Journal of Roman Studies . Awards include the Rome Prize Fellowship (American Academy in Rome) and recognition for interdisciplinary research. Current projects include the Oxford Handbook of the Iron Age Mediterranean and studies on labor and the Roman economy.

Douglas BirdView profile

Professor

• Ecological Anthropology
• Foraging Economies
• Fire Ecology
• +2 more

Douglas Bird is Professor of Anthropology at Penn State, researching interactions between social/ecological systems in foraging societies. His collaborative fieldwork with Martu Aboriginal communities examines hunting, fire ecology, and landscape evolution. Key research areas: Ethnoarchaeology of hunter-gatherers Anthropogenic fire regimes Co-evolution of humans/ecosystems Coastal archaeology Field sites include Australia's Western Desert and Torres Strait Islands.

James BlinkhornView profile

Researcher

• Palaeolithic Archaeology
• Human Evolution
• Paleoanthropology
• +5 more

Dr. James Blinkhorn serves as Fieldwork Director of the aWARE Project within the Pan African Evolution Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany. His research spans across West Africa and South Asia, with fieldwork conducted in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Senegal, India, and Sri Lanka, focusing on Stone Age sites in diverse ecological settings from rainforests to deserts. Dr. Blinkhorn's research interests center on Palaeolithic archaeology, human evolution, and environmental influences on hominin dispersals. His work examines how early humans adapted to varied landscapes, from the tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka to the arid environments of the Thar Desert. He has made significant contributions to understanding microlith technology, hafting origins, and the relationship between environmental change and cultural innovation during the Late Pleistocene. His publication record reveals a strong focus on comparative studies of Stone Age technologies across Africa and South Asia. A notable trend in his recent work involves examining how environmental variability shaped human technological adaptations across different ecological zones, particularly investigating the relationship between monsoon dynamics and hominin occupation patterns. His research frequently employs interdisciplinary approaches, combining lithic analysis with paleoenvironmental reconstruction to understand human behavioral plasticity. Dr. Blinkhorn actively collaborates with researchers across multiple institutions, including Griffith University, University College London, and The Australian National University. His field-based research spans multiple continents, with particular emphasis on West Africa's role in human evolutionary history and South Asia's importance as a corridor for human dispersals. As Fieldwork Director of the aWARE Project, he leads a substantial research program examining Stone Age sites across four West African countries. His work has contributed to identifying the oldest Middle Stone Age occupation of coastal West Africa and documenting technological continuity in West African archaeological records that challenges simple models of human evolution.

• Australian Indigenous Archaeology
• Heritage Studies
• Rock Art Analysis
• +4 more

Dr Tristen Jones is a Lecturer in the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies program at the University of Sydney, specializing in Australian Indigenous archaeology and heritage. Her work emphasizes rock art, cultural landscapes, material culture, and museum collections. Lecturer at University of Sydney PhD and MArchSci from Australian National University (ANU) Research Focus : Indigenous-led methodologies and collaborative partnerships with Australian Indigenous communities Rock art chronology, style, and social function in Arnhem Land Transformative potential of museum collections in disciplinary histories Material culture agency and cultural landscape analysis Scientific Awards : George Chaloupka Fellowship (2014) Australia Awards Endeavour Postdoctoral Fellowship (2017) National Geographic Society Research Award (2019) Key Projects : ARC Linkage Project (2020-2025) on Cape York Peninsula rock art Ubirr Rock Art Conservation (2020-2023) with Kakadu National Park International collaboration with University of Barcelona (2017)

Lisa MaherView profile

Professor

• Lithic Analysis
• Geoarchaeology
• Prehistory
• +6 more

Lisa Maher is a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, since 2012. She directs the Geoarchaeology and Southwest Asia Prehistory Laboratory, serves as Curator of Lithic Collections at the Hearst Museum of Anthropology, and is affiliated with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Center for European Studies, and the University of Toronto’s Archaeology Center. Education: PhD in Anthropology from the University of Toronto (2005) Postdoctoral: Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral Fellow (2005-2007), Arts and Humanities Research Council of Britain-funded Research Associate (2007-2011) Her research investigates Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer societies in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, focusing on human-environment interactions, transitions to food production, and landscape archaeology. She explores how climate change, technological innovation, and social networks influenced sedentism, population aggregation, and mortuary practices through material culture analysis. Lisa’s recent publications address meat preservation techniques (2019), hut structures in Southwest Asia and Europe (2019), phytolith evidence for Neolithization (2016), and environmental dynamics in the Levant (2016). These works highlight her expertise in geoarchaeology, lithic analysis, and climate-society linkages over 20,000+ years. Scientific Awards: Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral Fellow (2005-2007) Arts and Humanities Research Council of Britain-funded Research Associate (2007-2011) Lisa collaborates with institutions like the University of Toronto, University of Tulsa, and UNLV on projects in Jordan, Cyprus, and Hawaii. She contributes geoarchaeological expertise to regional studies in the Levant, Iran, and Kurdistan, emphasizing interdisciplinary methods and long-term landscape change.

Caspar MeyerView profile

Professor

• Archaeology of Ancient Greece and Eurasia
• Cross-cultural Interaction and Exchange
• Temporality and Embodiment in Ancient Art
• +6 more

Caspar Meyer is a Professor at the Bard Graduate Center, Bard College, where he serves as Editor of West 86th: A Journal of Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture . His research bridges archaeology, art history, and material culture studies, with emphases on ancient Greek and Eurasian societies, cross-cultural exchange, and the role of temporality in art. Meyer leads archaeological fieldwork at the sanctuary of Apollo on Despotiko and has excavated in Ukraine, Russia, and the Cyclades. Education includes a PhD and MS from the University of Oxford and a BA from King’s College London. Meyer's work interrogates how people and objects co-create environments through embodied craftsmanship, with current projects examining ancient 'future-making' via technological choices in pottery, metalwork, and stone carvings. His interests span: Intercultural dynamics in first-millennium BCE Eurasia Classical reception in modern scholarship and museums Archaeological method and sensory engagement with artifacts Recent publications (2018–2025) cluster around materiality, temporality, and interdisciplinary critique. Trends include museum display ethics, Scythian art technology, and re-evaluations of classical reception through Foucaultian and possibility-studies frameworks. Articles consistently merge technical analysis (e.g., chaîne opératoire) with cultural theory. He directs a field school for BGC students and co-edits thematic journal issues on topics like metalwork and magic, fostering collaborative research networks.

• Iroquoian Archaeology
• Huron-Wendat Cultural History
• Ontario Prehistory
• +3 more

Peter Ramsden serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Anthropology at McMaster University, specializing in North American archaeology with emphasis on Iroquoian and Huron-Wendat cultures of Ontario. His academic career spans five decades from 1967 to 2016, reflecting sustained engagement with Indigenous history and material culture analysis. His research interests focus on Iroquoian identity negotiation , ceramic analysis , and Ontario prehistory , particularly examining how St. Lawrence Iroquoians integrated into Huron-Wendat communities and the cultural transformations during European contact periods. Key methodologies include stylistic analysis of artifacts and settlement pattern studies across Ontario's Kawartha Lakes region and Arctic sites. Ramsden's publication trends reveal consistent contributions to Canadian Journal of Archaeology and Ontario Archaeology , with recent works analyzing identity politics in Huron villages (2009) and Iroquoian stylistic resistance (2016). His scholarship bridges archaeological evidence with anthropological theory to reconstruct precontact social dynamics. Ramsden maintains active scholarly engagement through book reviews and theoretical commentaries, though no formal awards or fellowships are documented in available records. His academic mentorship shows no publicly listed students, while grant activity appears limited based on McMaster's VIVO database records. Current research directions likely extend his longstanding focus on Huron-Wendat cultural continuity and ceramic typology refinement.

• Archaeology
• Mesolithic Studies
• Biomolecular Analysis
• +4 more

Birgitte Skar is an Associate Professor and Collection Manager for the Stone Age and Bronze Age at the Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, NTNU Science Museum. Her research focuses on Mesolithic and Neolithic adaptations, biomolecular studies, submerged landscapes, and cultural heritage protection. She leads the SCAPES project (2025-2028), funded by RCN FRIPRO, exploring social complexity through biomolecular data. Her work integrates archaeology with genetics and isotopic analysis, addressing topics such as migration patterns, dietary practices, and social stratification in prehistoric societies. Key contributions include studies on Scandinavian Neolithic pathogens, Viking Age genetic diversity, and Mesolithic mobility in Fennoscandia. She advises numerous master’s students and collaborates with institutions like the University of Bergen and the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Publications span high-impact journals like Nature and Cell , alongside museum exhibitions and policy-oriented reports on heritage management. Her research often bridges natural sciences and humanities, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human-environment interactions.

• Archaeology
• Paleoindian Archaeology
• Mesoamerican Archaeology
• +4 more

Jon Lohse serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Rice University, while concurrently holding a Senior Associate position at Terracon Consultants, Inc. and serving on the Board of Directors for the Gault School of Archaeological Research. A native Houstonian, he completed his graduate education at The University of Texas. His research specializes in early prehistoric periods across the Americas, particularly Archaic and Paleoindian cultures. Fieldwork spans Texas, Belize, Guatemala, and Oaxaca, with emphasis on preceramic societies, Maya settlement patterns, commoner household archaeology, environmental proxy-based paleoecological reconstructions, high-precision radiocarbon chronologies, and Clovis-era lithic production strategies including tool-making learning processes.

Viola C. SchmidView profile

Research Fellow

• Prehistoric Archaeology
• Human Evolution
• Pleistocene Studies
• +6 more

Dr. Viola C. Schmid is a postdoctoral researcher in the Quaternary Archaeology research group at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAI) in Vienna, with additional teaching roles at the University of Tübingen and University of Vienna. She earned her master's degree in 2013 and completed a binational PhD magna cum laude in 2019 through a joint program between the Universities of Tübingen and Paris Nanterre. Her career includes research positions at the University of Geneva (2019), ÖAI (2020-2021), and Leiden University (2021-2022), before returning to ÖAI in October 2022. Her research explores prehistoric archaeology across Africa and Europe, focusing on human evolution during the Pleistocene. Key interests include: Population dynamics and knowledge transfer in hunter-gatherer societies Technological systems development in Paleolithic and Mesolithic contexts Middle and Later Stone Age site excavations Reanalysis of archaeological collections using modern methods Schmid's publications primarily investigate lithic technology evolution, site formation processes, and Middle Stone Age adaptations in Africa and Europe. Her work frequently employs experimental approaches and interdisciplinary methods to analyze raw material sourcing, tool production techniques, and cultural transitions. Research sites span South Africa (Umhlatuzana, Diepkloof), Senegal (Toumboura III), Austria (Csaterberg), and Germany (Swabian Jura caves). While no scientific awards are documented, she actively contributes to international projects like the South African Middle Stone Age research during MIS 5 and the Peuplement humain et paléoenvironnement en Afrique program. Her grants and students are not specified in available materials. At ÖAI, she collaborates within the Quaternary Archaeology research group, focusing on Pleistocene human-environment interactions. She maintains academic networks through co-authorships with researchers across Europe and Africa, particularly in lithic technology and Paleolithic site analysis.