Angela Mötsch

Angela Mötsch is a Research Fellow in the Department of Archaeogenetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. Previously, she held a Postdoc position at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena (2018–2021). Her work focuses on European Protohistory, particularly the Hallstatt and La Tène periods, with emphasis on intercultural contacts in prehistoric societies. She is involved in major projects such as the Max Planck-Harvard Research Center for the Archaeological and Scientific Study of the Ancient Mediterranean (MHAAM), the ERC-funded MICROSCOPE project, and the BMBF-funded BEFIM project examining Mediterranean ceramics in Early Iron Age Europe.

• PhD: University of Kiel (2010), studying the Mont Lassois 'Princely Residence' in Burgundy
• Research expertise includes ancient DNA analysis, pottery residue studies, and archaeological excavation leadership

Her research investigates prehistoric social networks through material culture and genetic data, with notable contributions to understanding Celtic elites' dynastic succession, Etruscan origins, and malaria's ancient history. Key themes include cross-cultural interactions, funerary practices, and the role of Mediterranean imports in Central European societies.

Recent publications address topics like prehistoric genetic disorders (trisomy 21/18), Iron Age child burials' kinship patterns, and Etruscan population dynamics through archaeogenomic approaches. She collaborates internationally on large-scale archaeological projects, integrating genomic, isotopic, and archaeological data to reconstruct ancient human mobility and cultural processes.