Maria Bianca D'Anna

Maria Bianca D'Anna is a Researcher at the Austrian Archaeological Institute (OeAI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) in Vienna. Her primary role involves supporting the Heritage Science Austria network to implement a national infrastructure hub for heritage science. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at ANAMED (Koç University, Istanbul) and a Research Associate at the German Archaeological Institute's Istanbul Department.

Her educational background includes:

• BA in Social Work and Adult Education from Sapienza University, Rome
• Master's degree in Prehistory and Early History of the Near East from Sapienza University, Rome
• Doctorate in West Asian Archaeology from Free University of Berlin (2019)

Her research explores interdisciplinary themes at the intersection of archaeology and social practices, with focused expertise in:

• Food systems archaeology: Investigating food-related practices, policy, and commensality in ancient societies
• West Asian complex societies: Analyzing development patterns in prehistoric and early historic contexts
• Material culture studies: Specializing in ceramics examination through trace use analysis
• Cultural heritage management: Integrating museology with contemporary preservation approaches

She has conducted extensive fieldwork across Turkey, Syria, Azerbaijan, and Iraqi Kurdistan, and co-directed exhibition development at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arslantepe.