Professor of Archaeology, Anthropology, and Classical Studies
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Blog
Areas of Interest
Prehistoric archaeology of Greece and neighboring regions; early hominin dispersals; lithic technology; history of archaeology
Affiliations
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Senior Associate Member of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Excavations and Fieldwork
Professor Runnels has conducted research in Greece and neighboring regions in the eastern Mediterranean (e.g., Albania and Turkey) since 1973 on a wide range of subjects ranging from the early Palaeolithic occupation of the region, to the origins of agriculture, and the emergence of warfare in the Neolithic. His current research is focused on early hominin dispersals in the Mediterranean basin and around the world. He has recently conducted surveys and laboratory studies on early stone tools as evidence of such dispersals on the island of Crete (Greece) and in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, amongst other venues. He is also conducting research on prehistoric seafaring.
Teaching Awards
The Frank and Lynne Wisneski Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Arts and Sciences, 2003
Archaeological Institute of America Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 1997.
Representative Publications
Thomas P. Leppard and Curtis Runnels, 2017, “Maritime Hominin dispersals in the Pleistocene: advancing the debate,” Antiquity 91: 510-519.
Duncan Howitt-Marshall and Curtis Runnels, 2016, “Middle Pleistocene sea-crossings in the eastern Mediterranean?” Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 42: 140-153.
Curtis Runnels, 2014, “Early Palaeolithic on the Greek Islands?” Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 27: 211-230.
Curtis Runnels, Chad DiGregorio, Karl W. Wegmann, Sean F. Gallen, Thomas F. Strasser and Eleni Panagopoulou, 2014, “Lower Palaeolithic Artifacts from Plakias, Crete: Implications for Hominin Dispersals,” Eurasian Prehistory 11 (1-2): 129-152.
Brandon R. Olson, Jody M. Gordon, Curtis Runnels, and Steve Chomyszak, 2014, “Experimental Three-Dimensional Printing of a Lower Palaeolithic Handaxe: An Assessment of the Technology and Analytical Value,” Lithic Technology 39 (3): 162-172.
Thomas F. Strasser, Curtis Runnels, Karl Wegmann, Eleni Panagopoulou, Floyd McCoy, Chad DiGregorio, Panagiotis Karkanas, and Nick Thompson, 2011, “Dating Palaeolithic Sites in Southwestern Crete, Greece,” Journal of Quaternary Science 26: 553-560.
Thomas F. Strasser, Eleni Panagopoulou, Curtis N. Runnels, Priscilla M. Murray, Nicholas Thompson, Panayiotis Karkanas, Floyd W. McCoy, and Karl W. Wegmann, 2010, “Stone Age Seafaring in the Mediterranean: Evidence from the Plakias Region for Lower Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Habitation of Crete,” Hesperia 79: 145-190.
Curtis Runnels, Muzafer Korkuti, Michael L. Galaty, Michael E. Timpson, Sharon R. Stocker, Jack L. Davis, Lorenc Bejko, Skender Mucaj, 2009, “Early Prehistoric Landscape and Landuse in the Fier Region of Albania,” Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 22: 151-182.
Katerina Harvati, Eleni Panagopoulou, and Curtis Runnels, 2009, “The Paleoanthropology of Greece,” Evolutionary Anthropology 18: 131-143.
Curtis Runnels, Claire Payne, Noam Rifkind, Chantel White, Nicholas Wolff, and Steven LeBlanc, 2009, “Warfare in Neolithic Thessaly: A Case Study,” Hesperia 78: 165-194.
Curtis Runnels, 2002, The Archaeology of Heinrich Schliemann: An Annotated Bibliographic Handlist. Archaeological Institute of America, Boston.
Curtis Runnels and Priscilla Murray, 2001, Greece Before History: An Archaeological Companion and Guide. Stanford University Press, Stanford.