Jennifer Feng is a Geographical Studies major at the University of Chicago. She is our resident turea (a draw hoe) expert, keeping the section straight and level, even in the 100+ degree heat.

Nathan Downey is an Anthropology/Biological Sciences major at the University of Chicago, with an interest in palaeo-ethnobotany. Nathan is our resident lefty and enjoys felafel and sleeping outside. He respects the rocks in the section, even when he’d rather not.

Blair Heidkamp is a graduate student of anthropology at the University of Cincinnati, writing a thesis on spindle whorls in the Pottery Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze I. This is Blair’s third season with the GPP, and her seventh project overall, and her wisdom and experience have already proven invaluable.

Emma Menio is beginning her graduate studies in geosciences at the University of Arkansas this fall. Her academic interest lies in remote sensing, and for this project, she is the resident surveyor/geologist. She’s also an expert with the pickaxe, taking down levels with gusto.

Rosemary Hanson is a former Anthropology major who now teaches at an elementary-school in Seattle, WA. This is her second season with the GPP, and she enjoys obsessively straightening the balks and sneaking dates from the kitchen.  

Chad Hill is field director for GPP, and a research associate at Dartmouth College who specializes in zooarchaeology and aerial survey. He is working remotely this season to spend more time with the newest member of the Hill family, Elora! The team is both extremely excited and a little jealous: digging is just not the same without Chad’s quick wit, sharp trowel, and tech savvy at the ready.

Yorke Rowan is a co-Director of the GPP. An anthropologist and archaeologist by training, Yorke specializes in ground and chipped stone artifacts. He also specializes in strategic driving, dodging potholes, wild boars, and basalt rocks in the trusty Budget rental van.

Morag Kersel is a co-Director of the GPP. Professor of Anthropology at DePaul University, Morag specializes in the study of the antiquities trade in the eastern Mediterranean. She is registrar, surveyor, and manager who keeps the team on their toes with questions like: “Are you drinking water?” and “Did you label that?”