John T. Koch

Professor John T. Koch (PhD, Harvard 1985) is a Senior Fellow and Project Leader at the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS), University of Wales. An interdisciplinary expert in Celtic studies, historical linguistics, and archaeogenetics, he has led major AHRC-funded projects like Culture and Celtic Speech and Atlantic Europe in the Metal Ages. His work spans linguistic reconstruction, Bronze Age Europe, Celtic mythology, and ancient DNA analysis.

• Education: PhD in Celtic Languages and Literature, Harvard University (1985)
• Affiliation: CAWCS, University of Wales
• Role: Senior Fellow and Project Leader

His research bridges linguistics, archaeology, and genetics, focusing on Celtic origins, Tartessian inscriptions, and Celto-Germanic vocabulary. Recent publications reflect collaborations with geneticists and archaeologists, emphasizing the archaeogenetic revolution's impact on Celtic studies. Koch is a leading voice in the Celtic from the West theory, challenging traditional models of Celtic expansion.

Koch's articles reveal a strong interdisciplinary focus. These works analyze Bronze Age maritime networks, linguistic contact zones, and genetic dispersals, with recurring themes such as Celtic mythology, ancient DNA data interpretation, and epigraphic evidence from Iberia and Britain.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
• Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (FLSW)

Grants and Leadership: Koch directed two AHRC-funded projects on Celtic languages and Atlantic Europe's prehistory. He co-founded and organized international forums on Celtic origins, archaeogenetics, and linguistics, including events at Oxford, Aberystwyth, and Uppsala. His supervision includes PhD research on Pictish inscriptions, Classical Celtic references, and Welsh phonology.