Kadicha I. Tashbaeva is one of the leading archaeologists in Kyrgyzstan and Head of the Department of Archaeology at the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. For several decades, she has played a key role in advancing archaeological research in Central Asia, with a particular focus on the archaeology of the Tien Shan Mountains and the Fergana Valley. Her research encompasses the Early Iron Age, nomadic cultures, ancient settlements, and the remarkable rock art complexes of Kyrgyzstan, especially Saimaluu-Tash, where she is internationally recognized as one of the foremost experts.

Throughout her career, Prof. Tashbaeva has directed numerous archaeological expeditions and international collaborations, contributing significantly to the understanding of the cultural heritage of Central Asia. She has authored influential publications on the archaeology of early nomadic societies, the ancient state of Davan, and the conservation and interpretation of Central Asian petroglyphs. In addition to her research, she actively promotes international cooperation and heritage preservation through partnerships with institutions across Europe and Asia.

Atilla Vatansever is an archaeologist affiliated with the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and the founder of the Central Asia Research Society (CARS). His research focuses on the archaeology of Central Asia, particularly the Fergana Valley and the Silk Road, where he investigates ancient settlements, irrigation systems, metallurgy, and long-term human–environment interactions. He has led and participated in numerous international archaeological expeditions in Kyrgyzstan and collaborates closely with specialists in geoarchaeology, archaeobotany, geology, and environmental sciences to develop interdisciplinary approaches to archaeological research.

Alongside his fieldwork in Central Asia, he has contributed to archaeological research in the Czech Republic and several European countries. His recent work emphasizes the integration of archaeological, geoarchaeological, and environmental data to reconstruct past landscapes and settlement dynamics. He is also actively engaged in public outreach and the promotion of Central Asian archaeology through international collaborations and educational activities.

A full list of his publications and research activities is available on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Atilla_Vatansever.

Lenka Lisá is a geoarchaeologist at the Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences and one of the leading figures in the development of geoarchaeology in the Czech Republic. She began her scientific career as a sedimentologist at Masaryk University and later broadened her expertise during her research at the University of Cambridge, where she became involved in interdisciplinary studies combining geology and archaeology. This integration of Earth sciences and archaeology has since become the cornerstone of her research.

Her work focuses on the reconstruction of past landscapes and environments, the study of archaeological soils and sediments, and the application of geoarchaeology, micromorphology, sedimentology, and geochemical methods to better understand human activities and environmental change through time. She has participated in research projects across Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia and is actively involved in university teaching alongside her research at the Czech Academy of Sciences.

A full list of her publications and current research projects is available on her ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lenka-Lisa.

Aleš Bajer is an environmental geologist and geoarchaeologist at Mendel University in Brno, where he specializes in soil science, Quaternary geology, geoarchaeology, and landscape evolution. His research combines field investigations with sedimentological, pedological, and micromorphological methods to reconstruct past environments and human impacts on landscapes. He is particularly interested in the interactions between soils, geomorphological processes, and archaeological sites, as well as in the conservation of geoheritage and cultural landscapes.

Throughout his career, he has contributed to numerous interdisciplinary projects integrating geology, archaeology, ecology, and environmental sciences. His publications address topics ranging from archaeological soils and Quaternary landscape development to forest soils, geodiversity, and geoheritage management. In recent years, he has also been involved in geoarchaeological research in Central Asia, applying multi-proxy approaches to investigate long-term human–environment interactions.

A full list of his publications and research activities is available on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ales-Bajer.

Libor Petr is a palynologist and paleoecologist whose research focuses on the reconstruction of past vegetation, landscapes, and environmental change using pollen analysis. He graduated in biology and botany at Charles University and is currently affiliated with Masaryk University, where he works at the interface of ecology and archaeology. Throughout his career, he has collaborated extensively with archaeologists, integrating palynological data with geoarchaeological and archaeological evidence to reconstruct past human–environment interactions.

His research spans a wide range of archaeological and natural archives across Central Europe, addressing topics such as Holocene environmental change, human impact on vegetation, wetland development, and the evolution of cultural landscapes. He is a co-author of numerous interdisciplinary studies employing multi-proxy approaches to investigate prehistoric and historical environments.

A full list of his publications and research activities is available on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Libor_Petr.

Jozef Chajbullin Koštial is an archaeologist specializing in landscape archaeology, archaeological prospection, GIS, remote sensing, and digital documentation of archaeological heritage. His research focuses on the application of modern spatial technologies to the study of settlement patterns, communication networks, and cultural landscapes, with particular emphasis on Central Asia and Central Europe. He has collaborated with the University of West Bohemia and has participated in numerous interdisciplinary archaeological projects integrating field survey, remote sensing, geoarchaeology, and digital terrain modelling.

In recent years, his work has concentrated on the archaeology of the Fergana Valley and southern Kyrgyzstan, where he combines archaeological survey, GIS analyses, drone mapping, and historical satellite imagery to investigate ancient settlements, irrigation systems, and long-term landscape development. Beyond field research, he is actively involved in methodological development, archaeological data management, and science communication through international collaborations and educational activities.

A full list of his publications and research activities is available on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jozef-Chajbullin-Kostial-2.

Martin Janovský is an environmental archaeologist and geoarchaeologist at the Department of Archaeology, Charles University in Prague. His research focuses on the application of geochemical, sedimentological, and micromorphological methods to archaeological contexts, with particular emphasis on reconstructing past human activities, land use, and site formation processes. He has made significant contributions to the development of large-scale soil geochemistry and multi-proxy approaches for investigating archaeological landscapes and settlement dynamics.

His work spans prehistoric, medieval, and historical sites across Europe and the Near East, integrating archaeology with Earth sciences to better understand long-term human–environment interactions. He collaborates extensively in interdisciplinary international projects and has co-authored numerous publications in leading journals, including Catena, Scientific Reports, Journal of Archaeological Science, and Geoarchaeology.

A full list of his publications and research activities is available on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martin-Janovsky.

Abdinabi Kadyrov is a professor of archaeology and history at Batken State University, Kyrgyz Republic. His research focuses on the archaeology and cultural heritage of the Fergana Valley and southern Kyrgyzstan, with particular emphasis on ancient settlements, burial monuments, and the historical development of the Batken region. He has led numerous archaeological excavations and regional surveys, contributing significantly to the documentation and preservation of the rich archaeological heritage of southwestern Kyrgyzstan.

In recent years, Prof. Kadyrov has coordinated interdisciplinary research projects investigating Early Iron Age and Silk Road sites in the Batken region, collaborating with international teams to integrate archaeological, geoarchaeological, and environmental approaches. His work has played an important role in expanding knowledge of ancient settlement systems and cultural landscapes in one of Central Asia’s least explored archaeological regions.

Petr Kočár is an environmental archaeologist and archaeobotanist at the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague. His research focuses on archaeobotany, palaeoecology, and the reconstruction of past environments through the analysis of plant macroremains, charcoal, and pollen. He is particularly interested in the origins and development of agriculture, long-term vegetation dynamics, and the interactions between humans and their environment from prehistory to the historical period.

Throughout his career, he has contributed to numerous interdisciplinary projects combining archaeology, botany, and geoarchaeology across Europe and Central Asia. His work integrates archaeobotanical evidence with geoarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental datasets to reconstruct ancient farming systems, land use, and cultural landscapes. He has authored and co-authored numerous publications in leading international journals and actively collaborates with research teams on environmental archaeology and archaeological science.

A full list of his publications and research activities is available on his ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Petr-Kocar.

Pavel Lisý is a photographer and technical specialist at the Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Alongside providing technical support for geological and geoarchaeological research, he specializes in scientific and documentary photography, capturing fieldwork, landscapes, archaeological excavations, and geological phenomena. His photographs have been featured in exhibitions and science communication initiatives, highlighting both the beauty of natural processes and the everyday practice of scientific research.

He has participated in numerous international research expeditions across Europe, Africa, and Central Asia, documenting geological and archaeological investigations in diverse environments. Through his work, he combines technical expertise with an artistic perspective, producing visual records that support scientific documentation while making Earth sciences and archaeology accessible to a wider audience.

Kuttubek Orunbai uulu is an archaeologist and lecturer at Osh State University, Kyrgyz Republic. His research focuses on the archaeology of southern Kyrgyzstan and the Fergana Valley, with particular emphasis on the Early Iron Age, the Great Migration Period, burial traditions, and the cultural interactions that shaped Central Asia along the Silk Road. His work combines archaeological field survey, excavation, and the study of material culture to reconstruct the region’s settlement history and cultural development.

He has participated in several archaeological expeditions in southern Kyrgyzstan, contributing to the discovery and documentation of new archaeological sites, including recently identified Early Iron Age settlements and petroglyph complexes in the Osh region. Through collaborations with national and international research teams, he is actively involved in advancing archaeological research and the preservation of Kyrgyzstan’s cultural heritage.

Zdeňka Sůvová is an archaeozoologist and palaeoecologist specializing in the reconstruction of past environments and human–animal interactions through the analysis of faunal remains. After graduating in zoology from the University of South Bohemia, she has worked on a wide range of archaeological projects in Europe and the Middle East, contributing to the study of prehistoric subsistence, animal husbandry, hunting strategies, and environmental change.

Her research integrates archaeozoology with palaeoecology and environmental archaeology, providing insights into the relationships between past societies and their natural environments. In addition to her scientific publications, she is well known for her contributions to science communication and as a co-author of several popular science books on landscape, geology, and natural history.

A full list of her publications and research activities is available on her ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zdenka-Suvova.

Martina Panero is a researcher affiliated with the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Her work focuses on interdisciplinary environmental research at the interface of natural sciences and archaeology, with particular emphasis on soil science, geoarchaeology, and the application of laboratory methods to the reconstruction of past environments. She collaborates on international research projects integrating geological, archaeological, and environmental datasets to better understand long-term human–environment interactions.

She has participated in multidisciplinary research in Central Europe and Central Asia, contributing to studies that combine field investigations with laboratory analyses to reconstruct past landscapes and land-use practices.

A full list of her publications and research activities is available on her ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Panero-Martina-2.