Daan Raemaekers

Daan Raemaekers is a Professor of Archaeology of Northwest Europe at the University of Groningen, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. He specializes in the prehistory of Northwest Europe, focusing on the emergence of agriculture, Neolithic material culture, and archaeological heritage management. Raemaekers holds a PhD from Leiden University and previously led projects at RAAP Archeologisch Adviesbureau before joining academia. His research combines fieldwork, such as the excavation of megalithic tombs like D34 in Valthe (first since the 1980s), with advanced scientific analyses to uncover details about prehistoric societies.

His work explores transitions from hunter-gatherer to farming economies, using multi-proxy methods including radiocarbon dating, zooarchaeology, and genetic studies. Notable projects include investigations into Swifterbant culture sites and the Dalfsen burial ground, contributing to debates on Neolithization processes. Raemaekers has served as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts and collaborates internationally on projects such as the ArchaeoEcology initiative.

His publications span archaeological journals, edited volumes, and reports, addressing topics like pig domestication, megalithic architecture, and lipid residue analysis in ceramics. He emphasizes the societal relevance of archaeological heritage, advocating for adaptive preservation strategies. Raemaekers’ work bridges academic research, public engagement, and practical archaeology, shaping understanding of Europe’s early agricultural and cultural landscapes.