Ana Polo-Diaz

Dr Ana Polo-Diaz is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the University of Sheffield's School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities. She holds a PhD in Geoarchaeology from the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), where she also earned her M.A. in Environment and Cultural Adaptations during Prehistory, and a BA in History with a focus on Prehistory and Archaeology. Prior to her fellowship at Sheffield, she held postdoctoral positions at the University of Stirling and UPV-EHU, and served as Geoarchaeology Coordinator at IPHES (Catalonia).

Her research focuses on geoarchaeological methods to analyze sediment dynamics, human behavior, and paleoenvironmental impacts on cultural adaptation. Key geographic interests include the Iberian Peninsula and the Near East. Current projects explore early animal husbandry practices through the GeoFodder initiative, integrating archaeology, ethnography, and experimental data.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts in History (Prehistory & Archaeology), UPV-EHU
• Master of Arts in Environment and Cultural Adaptations in Prehistory, UPV-EHU
• PhD in Geoarchaeology, UPV-EHU

Her publications emphasize sediment analysis, rock-shelter deposits, and human-environment interactions. Notable works include studies on Cova Gran de Santa Linya and herding practices in prehistoric contexts. She has received the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship for her work in Sheffield.

Grants & Collaborations:

• Principal Investigator for the PALEODEM project (ERC-2015 CoG)
• GeoFodder Project (University of Sheffield)
• Collaborations with IPHES and international institutions

Her interdisciplinary approach combines micromorphology, lipid analysis, and experimental archaeology to reconstruct subsistence strategies and environmental adaptations of ancient communities.