Miriam Cubas Morera

Miriam Cubas Morera is a Ramón y Cajal Researcher in the Area of Prehistory, Department of History and Philosophy at the University of Alcalá, Spain. Her research is deeply interdisciplinary, integrating archaeological fieldwork, typological analysis, and advanced scientific methods such as organic residue and petrographic analysis.

• Education: PhD in Archaeology, Universidad de Cantabria (2010), with Extraordinary PhD Award (2012).
• Previous Positions: Assistant Professor at University of Oviedo (2019–2020) and University of Alcalá (2019).
• Research Group: PRECYT – Late Prehistory of the inner Tagus basin.

Her research centers on the origin and spread of early pottery technology in Neolithic Europe, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula. She investigates prehistoric culinary practices, human-environment interactions, and technological innovations through the analysis of ceramic assemblages. Her work combines traditional archaeological methods with cutting-edge scientific techniques, including lipid residue analysis and molecular archaeology. She has led and collaborated in international projects across Europe, South America, and Asia, contributing to a deeper understanding of Neolithisation processes.

Her extensive publication record includes over 164 publications, with recent work focusing on pottery technology, dairy production in Atlantic Europe, and interdisciplinary approaches to prehistoric foodways. Her research demonstrates a consistent trend toward integrating biomolecular data with archaeological context to reconstruct past lifeways.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Extraordinary PhD Award, Universidad de Cantabria (2012)
  • Awards from University of York, University of Alcalá, and Castilla-La Mancha Education Council

Miriam Cubas supervises 5 PhD students and has guided 7 master’s theses. She has participated in 11 PhD juries and contributes to academic teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She is actively involved in securing research funding and managing collaborative international projects. Her outreach efforts emphasize inclusive scientific dissemination, particularly through programs designed for people with disabilities and socially excluded groups. She leads initiatives that bridge academia and public engagement, promoting a culture of accessible science.

She is a key member of the PRECYT research group, focusing on the Late Prehistory of the inner Tagus basin, and collaborates with specialists in zooarchaeology, geochemistry, and paleoenvironmental studies to build comprehensive reconstructions of prehistoric societies.