In IPHES (www.iphes.cat) we are looking for Applicants, who would like to apply for IEF Call to study the chemical fingerprints of Mousterian hearth sediments and their byproducts. The purpose is to work on geochemical characterization and the distinction between animal and vegetable components in order to known the use of fire at the Abric Romaní archaeological site (Barcelona, Spain) by Neanderthal groups.
Abric Romaní is a special site where nearly 200 beautifully preserved hearths have been found in a rapid sediment accumulation that has led to “near- Pompeii-like” preservation of hearths, stone tools, and other artefacts, permitting an exemplary and unusually high-resolution research into Neanderthal life ways.
For this reason we offer an ensemble of “hearth-type” samples (n= >300) of burned sediments from hearths from this Middle Palaeolithic site, and scientific facilities to carry out this research in IPHES and Scientific Campus at URV in Tarragona (Spain) www.ceics.eu.
Description
The candidate will join this research using biochemical analysis to investigate the functional aspects of Neanderthal fireplaces under the scientific adviser of Josep Vallverdu PhD, who is working on the Mousterian hearths at Romaní rockshelter (Vallverdú et al, 2010. Current Anthropolgy 51(1): 137-146; and 2012. Quaternary International 247: 313-324).
IPHES as Hosting Institution located at Scientific Campus of Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Spain), has use of all the technical and scientific facilities for carry out this project (http://www.urv.cat/srct/serveis/index.html e.g. DRx, ESEM and SEM, ICP-AES, HPLC, Raman Spectometer…).
Researchers interested in applying should send their CV before 10th June to ipasto@iphes.cat indicating in the subject: MC IEF CALL+ “your name”
