Erica Platania

Erica Platania is a Research Fellow in Prehistory and Protohistory at the University of Catania, Department of Humanities (DISUM). She specializes in zooarchaeology, focusing on animal resource exploitation, cultural landscapes, and pastoralism in Sicilian and Cretan prehistoric contexts. Her work integrates archaeological and textual data with digital methodologies.

• PhD in Cultural Heritage Studies (University of Catania, 2019)
• Master's in Archaeology (University of Catania-Warsaw)
• Bachelor's in Cultural Heritage Sciences (University of Catania)

Her research centers on prehistoric architectural documentation, faunal remains analysis, and experimental archaeology, particularly in Minoan Crete and Bronze Age Sicily. Recent projects include CHANGES (EU-funded) and PIA.CE.RI. research groups.

Key publication trends include zooarchaeology of Bronze Age communal spaces, bone processing techniques, and digital heritage management systems. She actively participates in international conferences like ScapeCon and the International Congress of Cretan Studies.

• 2023-present: Research Fellow, CHANGES - Spoke 6 (EU PNRR funding)
• 2024-present: Lecturer in Prehistory and Protohistory, DISUM
• 2024-present: Lecturer in Aegean Civilizations, DISUM

Scientific awards include the Region of Sicily PO FSE 2014-2020 scholarship and a University of Catania Ateneo scholarship for international study at Warsaw University. She contributes to the editorial board of Creta Antica and collaborates with research teams in Italy, Belgium, and Poland.