Ermengol Gassiot Ballbe

Ermengol Gassiot Ballbe is a Professor in the Department of Prehistory at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, with a distinguished career in Pyrenean archaeology. His research spans from the Mesolithic through Neolithic periods into Roman times, with particular focus on high mountain environments and human adaptation strategies. He leads multiple major research projects investigating pastoralism, early Neolithic settlements, and landscape formation in the Pyrenees.

• PhD from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2001)
• Acreditación de Titular de Universidad (2013)
• Acreditació de Recerca from AQU (2013)

Gassiot Ballbe's research interests center on Pyrenean prehistory, particularly early human occupation of high mountain environments, Neolithic pastoralism, and the transition from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies. His work combines traditional archaeological methods with advanced scientific techniques like traceological analysis and ZooMS for faunal identification. He has made significant contributions to understanding how prehistoric communities adapted to challenging mountain environments.

His recent publications analyze Mesolithic hunter-gatherer campsites, early Neolithic pastoralism in high mountain settings, and Roman territorial exploitation patterns. These works demonstrate his interdisciplinary approach, connecting environmental context with human behavior across different historical periods in the Iberian Peninsula.

• Premi extraordinari de llicenciatura (2001)
• Acreditació de Recerca (2013)
• Acreditación de Titular de Universidad (2013)

As an active supervisor, Gassiot Ballbe has guided 19 supervised works and currently accepts PhD students. His research is supported by numerous grants, including four active projects through 2027 focusing on Pyrenean pastoralism, Neolithic occupation, and climate change adaptation. He collaborates extensively with researchers across Spain and internationally, contributing to both academic knowledge and public understanding of archaeology through the PAHEPS research group.