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Francis Wenban-Smith is the Principal Enterprise Fellow in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Southampton, with a rich background in lithic technology and human origins research. He began his career in archaeology in 1981, engaging with peat bog studies in Yorkshire, where his interest in lithic technology was sparked during fieldwork at a Mesolithic site. Wenban-Smith completed his BA at the London Institute of Archaeology, followed by an MA in Lithic Analysis Microwear at University College London, and a PhD at the University of Southampton, focusing on the classic British Levalloisian site Baker's Hole in Kent. His expertise led him to become a Senior Supervisor Lithic Analyst on the Hominid Site project in the mid-1990s. Involvement with the HS1 project allowed him to combine his academic knowledge with practical archaeological applications as he specialized in Palaeolithic studies related to major development projects. He collaborates with national agencies and various entities to mitigate the impact of modern developments on Palaeolithic sites, while also leading grant-funded research projects. His research interests span hominin ecology, human evolution, cognitive development, and material culture, with a focus on the Early and Middle Pleistocene periods in Europe and Asia.