Professor John J. Shea
Ph.D., Harvard University, 1991
Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer 2012-2014
Contact Information:
Anthropology Department and Turkana Basin Institute
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364
email: John.Shea@stonybrook.edu
Phone: (631) 632-7665
Research Interests:
The archaeology of human evolution, specifically the Pleistocene prehistory of Southwest Asia and Eastern Africa. An expert flintknapper, Shea's major methodological area of expertise is lithic (stone tool) analysis. He is particularly interested in issues surrounding the origin and dispersal of Homo sapiens, the extinction of the Neanderthals, and the evolution of human behavioral variability.
Major funded research projects:
The Middle Stone Age archaeology of the Lower Omo Valley Kibish Formation, Ethiopia (2000-2002, resuming in 2014). Co-PI with John Fleagle.
Archaeological survey and excavation of Holocene sites in West Turkana Kenya (2007-present). Co-PI with Elisabeth Hildebrand.
Experimental and morphometric investigations into the origins of complex projectile weaponry (2001-present).
Excavations of Ar Rasfa, a Middle Paleolithic Site in Northwest Jordan (1996-1999, 2008-2009).
Excavations at 'Ubeidiya, an Early Pleistocene site in Israel (1992-1999). Co-PI with Ofer Bar-Yosef, Eitan Tchernov & Claude Guerin.
Recent Publications:
A list of Shea's publications (including pdf downloads) media work, and other information can be found at http://sbsuny.academia.edu/JohnShea
