Roger Matthews

Professor Roger Matthews is a prominent archaeologist at the University of Reading, specializing in Near Eastern and Iranian prehistory. His research focuses on Neolithic transitions, ancient technologies, and human-environment interactions. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in regions including Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran, and Anatolia, leading projects like the Central Zagros Archaeological Project (CZAP) and Project Paphlagonia. His work integrates zooarchaeology, paleoenvironmental analysis, and ancient DNA studies to explore early agricultural development and cultural dynamics. Key contributions include studies on the Epipalaeolithic-Neolithic transition, urbanization processes, and the impact of climate change on early farming communities. Matthews co-authored major publications such as The Archaeology of Iran from the Palaeolithic to the Achaemenid Empire and has been involved in heritage preservation efforts in conflict zones like Iraq. His interdisciplinary approach bridges archaeology with genetics, climatology, and ethnoarchaeology to reconstruct complex prehistoric societies.