Carmen Martín-Ramos

Dr. Carmen Martín-Ramos is a Teaching Professor in Early Prehistory and Human Evolution at the University of Leicester's School of Archaeology and Ancient History. She holds a PhD from University College London (Institute of Archaeology) and the London Natural History Museum, with postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge's McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. Her research focuses on understanding hominin behavioral evolution through lithic assemblage analysis in East and South Africa, particularly at Olduvai Gorge. She has over 14 years of fieldwork experience, including ERC-funded projects (BICAEHFID and ORACEAF), and has worked across Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Spain, and the UK. Beyond academia, she advocates for mental health in academia and explores prehistory's portrayal in popular culture.

Education:

• PhD in Archaeology, University College London & Natural History Museum, London
• Postdoctoral Research, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge

Research Interests: Combines lithic analysis, geoarchaeology, and field excavation techniques to study Oldowan, Acheulean, and Middle Stone Age technocomplexes. Specializes in landscape use and cognitive evolution of early hominins. Actively engages in collaborative field projects in Africa.

Grants & Projects:

• ERC Advanced Grant BICAEHFID (ID: 832980)
• ERC Starting Grant ORACEAF (ID: 283366)

Labs/Teams: Active member of interdisciplinary teams at Olduvai Gorge and other African field sites, contributing to global paleoanthropological research networks.