Dr Alan Garfinkel is an archaeologist, anthropologist, and passionate advocate for Indigenous cultural preservation, best known as the former host of The Rock Art Podcast on the Archaeology Podcast Network. With over 45 years of experience in California and Great Basin archaeology, he is widely recognised as one of the leading experts on Native American rock art in North America.
Dr Garfinkel previously served as the founding President of the California Rock Art Foundation (CRAF), an organisation dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and public education of rock art and cultural heritage sites. His work has long combined rigorous archaeological scholarship with close collaboration with tribal communities, emphasising Indigenous knowledge systems, sacred landscapes, and spiritual traditions.
Dr Alan Garfinkel
He holds a PhD in Anthropology and has authored hundreds of academic papers, reports, and books on rock art, archaeoastronomy, forager lifeways, and the early peopling of the Americas. Whether leading field projects, giving site tours, or hosting podcast conversations, Dr Garfinkel brings warmth, curiosity, and a strong commitment to cultural respect to all that he does.
Through The Rock Art Podcast, he shared stories etched in stone—offering listeners a window into the ancient artistry, beliefs, and traditions of Indigenous peoples across the western United States and beyond.
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