Omry Barzilai

Currently head of Archaeological Research Department in the IAA. My responsibilities comprise administrating the archaeological research process in the organization, management and supervision of the senior field archaeologists and specialists (a total of 35 researchers), professional training for young archaeologists and researchers; development and maintenance of technological methods in archaeological excavations; organization of seminars, workshops, and conferences, in collaboration with other research institutions. My research interests are: Paleolithic and Neolithic archaeology, lithic technology, cultural complexity, human evolution, geoarchaeology, paleoenvironment. I'm currently directing several research projects. 1. "In search of modern humans and the Upper Paleolithic at Manot Cave, Israel" 2010-ongoing. Co-directed with Prof. O. Marder, Ben Gurion University and Prof. I. Hershkovitz Tel Aviv University. 2. "Dating the transition from the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic in the Negev" 2013-2018. Co-directed with Prof. E. Boaretto, Weizmann Institute of Science. 3. "Prehistoric Sites, Fluvial Terraces, and Travertine Deposits: A Geoarchaeological Study of the Lower and Middle Paleolithic of the Negev, Israel" 2019-ongoing. Co-directed with Dr. Y. Avni, the Geological Survey Israel. The data which I will present in the workshop was obtained in this project. 4. Reconstructing chrono-stratigraphy and paleoenvironments at the site of Ubeidiya 2021-ongoing. Co-directed with Prof. Miriam Belmaker, the University of Tulsa.