Alex Bertacchi

Alex Bertacchi is a Research Fellow in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University, affiliated with the Wostbrock lab. His research focuses on reconstructing past ecological and climatic conditions to understand hominin subsistence strategies and mobility patterns. Specializing in stable and radiogenic isotope analysis, he investigates incremental biological tissues to explore Cenozoic seasonality and its impact on human evolution.

Current projects include analyzing triple oxygen isotopes in tooth enamel from modern and fossil mammals to reconstruct water usage patterns. His work spans multiple regions including Malawi, southwestern France, and the Swabian Jura in Germany. Key research themes include forager territorial behavior, faunal exploitation patterns, and the application of multi-proxy methods in paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

Publications emphasize methodological advancements in zooarchaeology and isotopic analysis, particularly in addressing diagenetic alteration in archaeological materials. He has contributed to studies of mortuary practices, ancient DNA, and the behavioral ecology of prehistoric human groups. His interdisciplinary approach integrates geochemistry, archaeology, and primatology to address questions about human adaptation and environmental interaction.

Lab affiliations include the Wostbrock lab at Yale, where he applies cutting-edge isotope geochemistry techniques to explore mammalian paleoecology. His work bridges the gap between geological records and anthropological interpretations, offering novel insights into human and environmental co-evolution.