Carleton Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Galway. Dr. Jones's research is concerned with investigating the organization and dynamics of prehistoric European societies with a particular focus on Ireland. He is primarily focused on the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. In the past, he directed a long-term field project surveying and excavating on the Burren in western Ireland which was supported in part by the Heritage Council and the Royal Irish Academy. His current research continues to focus on prehistoric societies (primarily in Ireland but also throughout Europe). Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 1997, and his MA (1992) and BA (1986) from California State University Long Beach. Prior to joining the staff at the University of Galway, Dr. Jones founded and ran Burren Archaeology Research (1997-2000), served as consultant archaeologist for the set-up of the County Clare Museum (1999-2000), and was Field Director (1989-93) and originally a crew member (1986-89) at Archaeology Resource Management Corporation (California).

My research is concerned with investigating the organization and dynamics of prehistoric European societies with a particular focus on  Neolithic and Bronze Age Ireland. My research takes an anthropological approach to the data and I am particularly concerned with the inter-relatedness of aspects such as the scale of residential groups and patterns of settlement, the economic activities of communities, contact and exchange networks and mechanisms, the scale and focus of ritual activities, the nature of status distinctions, and the linking of landscapes and identities. Human - environment/climate interactions as well as the movement of individuals and populations are also topics of interest. My research has also branched into new trajectories through collaborations with palaeoenvironmental, isotope, and ancient DNA specialists. I am currently writing a book on the Bronze Age roots of European civilization.