Eslem Ben Arous

Dr. Eslem Ben Arous is an Affiliated Scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, contributing to the Human Palaeosystems Research Group. His research focuses on prehistoric archaeology, particularly the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA) in Africa, with a strong emphasis on chronostratigraphic analysis and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

• Institution: Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena
• Role: Affiliated Scientist, Human Palaeosystems Research Group

His work leverages advanced dating techniques such as Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), and U-series dating to refine archaeological chronologies. Key projects include the Sidi Zin Archaeological Project in Tunisia, investigations at El Harhoura 2 (Morocco), and long-term fieldwork in the Falémé Valley (Senegal). He has published extensively on topics like early human occupation of African rainforests 150,000 years ago, olive utilization in prehistory, and the behavioral significance of carcass processing at Moroccan cave sites dating to 700 ka.

Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends, merging paleoclimatic simulations with empirical dating data to contextualize MSA/LSA transitions across Africa. His methodological contributions include optimizing ESR dating protocols for optically bleached quartz grains and resolving chronological uncertainties in Northwest African and Iberian Pleistocene sites. Collaborative efforts span institutions in France, Morocco, Senegal, and Spain, focusing on coastal dune deposits, cave sediments, and fluvial systems as archaeological archives.

Dr. Ben Arous's research has significant implications for understanding human-environment interactions during critical phases of hominin evolution and dispersal. He actively contributes to debates on technological innovation, regional continuity, and the epistemological frameworks shaping African prehistoric studies, particularly in Western and Central Africa.