Exzellenzcluster - HUMAN ORIGINS

Dennis Thomas Batz

Doctoral Researcher

A photo of Dennis Batz, a white man standing in front of greenery wearing a dark blue short sleeve short. He faces the camera with crossed arms, and has dark brown short hair and a short beard.

Universität Tübingen
Cluster of Excellence HUMAN ORIGINS

Burgsteige 11
D-72074 Tübingen

R. 109
dennis.batzspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

 

Research

"I am an archaeologist specialising in the European Palaeolithic, with a particular interest in the evolution of hominin space use, settlement organisation, and early dwelling structures. My doctoral research at the University of Tübingen’s Human Origins cluster investigates the evolution of domestic spaces and broader patterns of spatial behaviour in early hominins.
My work combines traditional archaeological approaches with digital and quantitative methods, including GIS, spatial modelling, databases, photogrammetry, 3D documentation, and reproducible data workflows. A central component of my research is the development and analysis of large archaeological datasets, including a database of more than 130 potential Upper Palaeolithic dwelling structures from across Europe.
In my PhD, I aim to operationalise spatial behaviour across archaeology, primatology, and evolutionary theory in order to better understand the origins and development of domestic spaces throughout human evolution. More broadly, my research seeks to clarify the trajectory and drivers of human evolution, with a particular focus on cultural evolution."
 

Curriculum vitae

Since 02/2026
Doctoral Researcher

Human Origins Cluster of Excellence, University of Tübingen

PhD project title: Domestic Spaces in Human Evolution

2025 - 2026
Excavation Technician

DFG-funded Project at the State Office for Cultural Heritage in the Regional Council of Stuttgart, Tübingen/Blaubeuren (Germany)

Organisation, on-site leadership, and documentation of archaeological fieldwork, including post-excavation processing, contribution to publications, reporting, staff training, data analysis, and logistical coordination

2022 - 2025
Master of Arts

University of Cologne, Cologne (Germany)

English title: Potential dwelling structures of the Upper Palaeolithic in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe: A computer-aided quantitative analysis
 

2024
Excavation Technician

State Office for Cultural Heritage in the Regional Council of Stuttgart, Tübingen/Blaubeuren (Germany)

Project: Sirgenstein Cave, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017. On-site leadership, documentation, post-excavation processing, contribution to publications, staff training, and logistical coordination
 

2024
Student Assistant

University of Cologne (Jun.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Maier), Cologne (Germany)

Contribution to scientific publications and editorial work; maintenance and processing of archaeological databases; preparation of artefact photographs; support in the preparation of archaeological excavations, geophysical surveys, and project-related data collection
 

2023
Student Assistant

University of Cologne, CRC 806 ‘Our Way to Europe’ (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Richter), Cologne (Germany)

Contribution to scientific publications and editorial work; artefact photography; support in the preparation of archaeological excavations; database entry; and coordination with institutes and institutions
 

2018 - 2022
Bachelor of Arts

University of Bamberg, Bamberg (Germany)

English title: An Early Medieval Enclosure and Prehistoric Settlement Traces in Altendorf, Bavaria
 

Scientific work

Publications

  • Tafelmaier, Y., Batz, D., Beutelspacher, T., Bofinger, J., Bubenzer, O., Dreibrodt, S., Eberle, J., Hecht, S., Huber, H. and Krauß, R. ‘Archäologische Untersuchungen der mesolithischen Freilandstation Steingart im Naturpark Schönbuch’, Archäologische Ausgrabungen in Baden-Württemberg 2025 [in press]. 
     
  • Bataille, G., Bubenzer, O., Hecht, S. and Batz, D. (2025) ‘Alter Fundplatz – neue Funde. Aktuelle archäologische Untersuchungen in der Sirgensteinhöhle bei Blaubeuren (Alb-Donau-Kreis)’, Archäologische Ausgrabungen in Baden-Württemberg 2024, pp. 66–72. 
     
  • Al Kassem, A., Maier, A., Richter, J., Batz, D., Hopper, K. and Ibraheem, I. M. (2025) ‘Preliminary Results of Stratified Late Epipalaeolithic Sites within Looting Pits at Al Teibeh, Southern Syria’, Paléorient, 51, pp.51–220.
     
  • Richter, J., Uthmeier, T., Batz, D., Sauer, F., Schemmel, M. and Gnau, R. (2023) ‘Heizen in der Eiszeit’, Archäologie in Deutschland, 5, pp. 8–13.
     

Conference contributions

Posters

Batz, D. and Maier, A. (2026) ‘Database for potential dwelling structures of the Upper Palaeolithic of Western, Central, and Eastern Europe – General information and morphological attributes’, 67th Conference of the Hugo Obermaier Society, Ferrara, Italy, 7–11 April 2026. 

Batz, D. and Richter, J. (2023) ‘The Magdalenian open-air site of Bad Kösen-Lengefeld faces its final season – overview and outlook’, 64th Conference of the Hugo Obermaier Society, Aarhus, Denmark, 11–15 April 2023. 


Presentations 

Batz, D. (2026) ‘Potential Upper Palaeolithic Dwelling Structures in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe: Quantitative Analyses and Spatio-Chronological Patterns’, Colloquium for Early Prehistory, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, 21 May 2026. 

Batz, D. and Maier, A. (2026) ‘Potential dwelling structures of the Upper Palaeolithic in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe: A computer-aided quantitative analysis’, 53rd CAA International Conference, Vienna, Austria, 31 March–4 April 2026. 

Batz, D. and Maier, A. (2025) ‘Quantitative Analyses of Potential Upper Palaeolithic Dwelling Structures in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe’, 66th Conference of the Hugo Obermaier Society, Faro, Portugal, 22–26 April 2025. 

Batz, D. (2021) ‘Erst Buddeln dann Graben – Ein metallzeitliches Grubenwerk bei Altendorf. Auswertung der Grabung von 2019/2020’, Otto-Friedrich University Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany, 2 July 2021. 
 

Teaching

Guest lecturer in ‘Research Design’, University of Tübingen, Summer Semester 2026
Seminar, main lecturer: C. Tennie

Guest lecturer in ‘How cultures evolve’, University of Tübingen, Summer Semester 2026
Lecture series, main lecturer: C. Tennie