Thesis Project Description:
My PhD research focuses on the human settlement dynamics in the Danube Delta in relation to the evolution of the geomorphological context, since Neolithic until Medieval Age. The main aim of the project is to describe the forcing agents governing the historical development of deltaic civilizations and the geomorphology of their environments during the Holocene period.
The Danube Delta is a strategic area, which has always provided access overland from the North. It overlooks the Black Sea to the East and looks towards Central Europe via the Danube Valley. It is an important geographical corridor to understand the long-term evolution of Balkanic civilizations.
My research aims to characterize the relationships that existed between rapid climate changes, water resources, natural hazards and ancient societies at different temporal and spatial scales, along the coast of the Danube delta. The research will use sedimentary archives from coastal areas to reconstruct climate and palaeo-environmental dynamics in order to better contextualize the archaeological record. A comparative analysis will allow us to show the role of the climate on agricultural production and commercial strategies of these societies in relation to their degree of technical development and hence their adaptability in a particularly mobile and changing environments. In order to get a comprehensive understanding of past environmental conditions it is of particular importance to get insight into the specific vegetation cover changes and climatic conditions and variations.
The diachronic deltaic and coastal landscape dynamics will be completed by archaeological maps using innovative investigative techniques (GIS, photo interpretation). The reconstructed models will be cross-validated with archaeological, and biological data collected at archaeological sites that will provide knowledge on the maritime (i.e. harbour) and agricultural strategies developed for each investigated time period.
In this context, this PhD project is sustained by a research network composed from national research centers (CEREGE, IMBE, Tour de Vallat, Louvre Museum, Arlès Museum) and international (University of Bucharest, ICEM Tulcea - Romania, Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering - Romania).
Thesis Supervisors:
Interdisciplinary Research Axis:
Climate change
Academic Background:
Master in Archaeology and Ancient History
Bucarest, ROMANIA