Francesca Seghi

Research fellow at the University of Bologna within the ERC Synergy project LAST NEANDERTHALS, she focuses on the analysis of human fossil remains from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic. A naturalist and paleoanthropologist, she has a strong interest in human evolution, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and intentional body modifications for ornamental purposes in Prehistory. During her PhD, she specialized in the analysis of skeletal and dental remains from archaeological contexts that had been altered by fire. This project combined advanced methodologies, including spectroscopic, proteomic, and geochemical techniques, with a focus on stable isotope analysis to investigate the origin and mobility of individuals. In addition to research experiences in Germany and Belgium, she has participated in numerous excavation campaigns both in Italy and abroad (Tanzania and Oman).