Geoff Emberling

Geoff Emberling is Associate Research Scientist at the Kelsey Museum and Lecturer in Middle East Studies at the University of Michigan. He directs archaeological research at Jebel Barkal in northern Sudan and holds a PhD in Anthropology and Near Eastern Studies from Michigan. Previously, he served as Director of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago and Curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

His research examines ancient states and empires across the Middle East and North Africa, with fieldwork in Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. Emberling emphasizes collaborative archaeology with equal representation of local experts and community engagement.

He has curated major exhibitions including 'Graffiti as Devotion along the Nile' (Kelsey Museum, 2019-2020) and redesigned the Ancient Middle East gallery at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Current fieldwork at Jebel Barkal investigates the Kingdom of Kush through temple and cemetery excavations.