Valeska Becker

apl. Prof. Dr. Valeska Becker serves as Professor in the Department of Prehistory and Early History Archaeology within the University of Münster's Faculty of Humanities, specializing in human-animal relationships, archaeozoology, and Neolithic/Copper Age European studies. Appointed Senior Academic Councillor in 2017 and awarded Venia legendi in 2015, she became an adjunct professor in 2021 after completing her habilitation on Italian Neolithic studies.

Her academic foundation includes doctoral research at Saarland University (2007, summa cum laude) examining Linear Pottery Culture anthropomorphic figurines, preceded by studies at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Saarland University (1998-2007). Becker's educational trajectory reflects deep integration of archaeozoology with cultural analysis methodologies.

Becker's research program investigates the complex interplay between humans and animals through faunal remains and material culture, with particular focus on Neolithic Europe's cultural networks and symbolic representations. Her work bridges zooarchaeological analysis with anthropological theory to reconstruct ancient belief systems, notably through studies of animal depositions, plague vectors, and ritual practices across European prehistory.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a scholarly trajectory from early Neolithic Italian settlements to cross-cultural comparisons of animal symbolism, increasingly incorporating interdisciplinary approaches combining archaeology, biology, and ethics. This evolution includes investigations of plague transmission vectors and ethical dimensions of ancient human-animal relationships, demonstrating methodological expansion beyond traditional archaeological frameworks.

• Venia legendi award (2015)

Becker maintains extensive international collaborations across European prehistory projects, contributing to edited volumes and leading archaeological analyses. Her current research includes paleogenomic studies of dog domestication and investigations of Iron Age burial sites, reflecting continued methodological innovation. She directs research on Neolithic figurines and human-animal boundary concepts through the University of Münster's archaeological collections and field projects, maintaining active roles in editorial boards and archaeological societies while advancing public engagement with prehistoric studies.