Elisabetta Starnini

Elisabetta Starnini is an Associate Professor at the University of Pisa's Department of Civilizations and Forms of Knowledge, specializing in Prehistory and Protohistory. Her research focuses on interdisciplinary archaeological and geoarchaeological approaches, with emphases on Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, material culture analysis, and environmental interactions. She has conducted studies in Italy, Greece, Hungary, and Pakistan, addressing topics such as lithic technology, ceramic production, isotopic dietary analysis, and cultural heritage preservation.

Her work integrates methods like geochemical sourcing, stable isotope analysis, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction to explore human-environment dynamics. Notable projects include investigations into Mousterian sites in Central Italy, Aurignacian assemblages in the Aegean, and Neolithic funerary practices in Liguria. She is also a key contributor to the SPHeritage Project, which links archaeological heritage to past environmental changes.

Elisabetta’s research bridges archaeology, geology, and biochemistry, aiming to decode prehistoric lifeways through material evidence. Her publications emphasize methodological innovation, such as applying pXRF for obsidian provenance studies and integrating museum collections into contemporary analytical frameworks.