Prof. Evangelia Pişkin | Archaeology | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Middle East Technical University, Turkey.

Prof. Evangelia Pişkin is a leading zooarchaeologist and Associate Professor at the Middle East Technical University (METU), where she has been a faculty member since 2004. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Leicester with a focus on the methodological and taphonomic interpretation of animal bones in archaeology. Her career spans more than two decades of academic, field, and laboratory research, with contributions to major archaeological sites across Europe and the Near East. Her expertise lies in the analysis of animal remains to reconstruct aspects of ancient life and environment, combining rigorous fieldwork with specialized laboratory techniques.

Publication Profile 

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Educational Background 🎓

• Ph.D. in Archaeological Studies, University of Leicester, UK (2000)
  Dissertation: “Taphonomic and Methodological Problems of Interpreting Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites: their Application on Bone Assemblages from Greece and England.”

• M.A. in Archaeological Studies, University of Leicester, UK (1995)
  Thesis: “Taphonomy of Animal Bones: A Study of the Survival of Epiphyses from Skeletal Representation Tables.”

• B.A. in Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (1988)

Professional Experience 💼

Prof. Evangelia Pişkin is currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Settlement Archaeology at the Middle East Technical University (METU), a position she has held since 2017. She was conferred the title of Associate Professor by the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK) in 2015. Prior to her current role, she was an Assistant Professor at METU from 2010 to 2017, and a Lecturer in the same department from 2004 to 2010. Her earlier academic appointments include part-time lecturing at Bilkent University (2002–2004, 1999), and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship and Publication Assistantship at the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara (2000–2002). She also played a key role in the Black Sea Initiative of the British Academy and the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, serving as an administrator and principal researcher from 2002 to 2004.

Prof. Pişkin has extensive field experience, having participated in numerous archaeological excavations and surveys across Greece, the UK, Spain, and Turkey. She has held various roles including trench supervisor, excavator, and animal and plant remains analyst at major archaeological sites such as Toumba Thessalonikis, Abdera, Lindisfarne, Amorium, Kerkenes, Ulucak Höyük, and Komana.

Research Interests 🔬

Prof. Pişkin specializes in zooarchaeology, with a focus on taphonomic analysis, archaeozoological methodologies, and the study of animal and plant remains from archaeological contexts. Her work explores the interpretation of faunal assemblages in relation to past human behavior, economy, and environment, particularly within the regions of Greece, Anatolia, and the broader Eastern Mediterranean.

Author Metrics

• Publications: Numerous contributions to academic journals, excavation reports, and edited volumes in the field of zooarchaeology and settlement archaeology.

• Conference Presentations: Active participation in international conferences related to archaeological science and zooarchaeology.

• Collaborations: Involved in interdisciplinary research with teams from METU, the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, and excavation projects across Europe and Turkey.

• Academic Supervision: Supervisor of graduate theses in zooarchaeology and archaeological science.

Publications 📚

1. Archaeogenetic analysis of Neolithic sheep from Anatolia suggests a complex demographic history since domestication

• Authors: E. Yurtman, O. Özer, E. Yüncü, N. D. Dağtaş, D. Koptekin, Y. G. Çakan, E. Pişkin, et al.

• Journal: Communications Biology

• Volume: 4, Article Number: 1279

• Year: 2021

• Citation Count: 41

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02854-2

• Abstract Summary: This study uses archaeogenetic techniques to analyze Neolithic sheep remains from Anatolia, uncovering a complex demographic history since the initial domestication process. The findings highlight genetic diversity and evidence of multiple domestication events or admixture.

2. Archaeobotany at Komana: Byzantine plant use at a rural cornucopia

• Author: Evangelia Pişkin

• Book Chapter In: Komana’da Ortaçağ Yerleşimi (The Medieval Settlement at Komana)

• Year: 2015

• Citation Count: 19

• Summary: This paper presents archaeobotanical findings from Byzantine-period contexts at the Komana site in Turkey, revealing plant use strategies in a rural Byzantine setting. The study sheds light on subsistence and local agriculture.

3. The Effect of Dog Scavenging on a Modern Cattle, Pig and Sheep Bone Assemblage

• Author: E. Ioannidou

• Journal: Archaeofauna

• Volume: 12, Pages 47–59

• Year: 2003

• Citation Count: 15

• Summary: This research examines how dog scavenging affects the preservation and appearance of bone assemblages, with implications for taphonomic interpretations in zooarchaeology. It provides controlled observations on bone modifications by scavengers.

4. Environmental Archaeology: Current Theoretical and Methodological Approaches

• Authors: E. Pişkin, A. Marciniak, M. Bartkowiak (Editors)

• Publisher: Springer

• Year: 2018

• Citation Count: 10

• ISBN: 978-3-319-91066-4

• Summary: This edited volume presents up-to-date theoretical and methodological advances in environmental archaeology. It addresses interdisciplinary approaches, including archaeobotany, zooarchaeology, and geoscience applications.

5. Byzantine and Ottoman Animal Husbandry in Komana

• Author: Evangelia Pişkin

• Book Chapter In: The Medieval Settlement at Komana

• Year: 2015

• Citation Count: 9

• Summary: This chapter explores the continuity and change in animal husbandry practices in Komana from the Byzantine to Ottoman periods, based on zooarchaeological data. It discusses shifts in species preference and livestock management.

Conclusion

Prof. Evangelia Pişkin is an exceptional candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award in Archaeology. Her extensive field experience, methodological rigor, impactful publications, and dedication to academic mentorship position her as a leader in the field of environmental and zooarchaeology. While expanding her global outreach and interdisciplinary presence would further boost her scholarly footprint, her current profile demonstrates a profound and sustained contribution to archaeological science.