International workshop at IPHES-CERCA to advance the study of taphonomy and the conservation of Paleolithic remains
The center hosts this week the first round table of the working group “Bridging Bone Diagenesis and Residue Taphonomy in Paleolithic Archaeology”
The Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA) is this week the venue of the international workshop Bridging Bone Diagenesis and Residue Taphonomy in Paleolithic Archaeology, a scientific meeting aimed at building bridges between two key disciplines for understanding the archaeological record: the study of bone diagenetic processes and the analysis of organic residues preserved on prehistoric stone tools.
The event, organized at the Romaní Hall of IPHES-CERCA and also streamed online, brings together researchers from European and North American research centers. Its purpose is to launch a joint debate on how the chemical and physical processes that affect bone preservation may also influence the conservation and interpretation of microscopic residues adhered to tools, paving the way for more integrated and robust methodologies.
The program includes specialized lectures and a final round table to identify major knowledge gaps and explore new avenues of collaboration.
The leading role of IPHES-CERCA
Researchers at IPHES-CERCA play a central role with several contributions:
- Dr. Andreu Ollé presents “A multi-analytical approach to the analysis of residues on experimental and archaeological stone tools”, showcasing the results of the Lithic Technology Laboratory at IPHES-CERCA in the multi-analytical study of residues adhered to stone tools. This approach combines different scales and techniques to characterize remains in a non-invasive manner.
- Héctor Del Valle, together with Dr. Isabel Cáceres and other collaborators, contributes with the paper “From Molecules to Archaeological Context: bone diagenesis applied to Stratigraphy and Cultural Heritage”. This work demonstrates how the study of bone diagenetic processes allows the reconstruction of site formation, improves stratigraphic characterization, and addresses challenges in heritage conservation and restoration.
- In addition, Dr. Josep Maria Vergès is co-author of the study “Searching the invisible to describe the past”, focused on the identification of microscopic organic biomarkers that help interpret the use of ancient artifacts.
This set of contributions reflects the breadth of IPHES-CERCA’s expertise, ranging from lithic technology to taphonomy and the study of degradation and preservation processes.
With this initiative, IPHES-CERCA strengthens its role as an international reference in interdisciplinary research on taphonomy, functional analysis, and the conservation of the Paleolithic record, while fostering new scientific collaborations on a global scale.