Bridging Archaeobotany and Ancient Plant Genomics

The research combines archaeobotany, genomics, and prehistory. Integrating these disciplines pushes methodological boundaries to deepen our understanding of plant use in ancient human societies. This PhD project at Freie Universität Berlin investigates the development and spread of specific agricultural practices in Neolithic southern Europe by analyzing plant macroremains, stable isotopes, and radiocarbon data, including from Isolino Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Italy. Additionally, it explores flax diversification across different eras in Southern Europe and North Africa, using ancient DNA analysis of samples from European and Egyptian sites to trace the (pre)historic spread of oil and fibre varieties.