We lead multidisciplinary research on African Archaeology from early stone tool productions to historical times, in relation to climatic, environmental and biological changes. Our focus is on the study of Human Evolution and technical innovations over an extended timeframe and we are working on the implementation of reference models in these fields. This research involves different approaches, including studies on stone tool productions, ceramic technology, early metallurgy, zooarchaeology, paleobotany, geomorphology and different dating techniques. These studies are conducted in collaboration with multiple institutions based in Europe as well as in Africa.
Our research area is mainly West Africa, where we are leading an important archeological excavation program in the framework of our Human Population and Palaeoenvrionment in Africa project (see more at http://www.ounjougou.org/). The current FNS project in the Falémé River Valley, Senegal, has the following aims: 1) to unveil the oldest human occupations and provide unprecedented chronometric dates for these sites; 2) to document the period of transition between hunter-gatherer populations and the first ceramic producers; 3) to record the technical diversity of the first iron metallurgy in the region; 4) to assess trans-saharian and gold trade during the medieval period. Other research collaborations involve Palaeolithic studies in Ethiopia and South Africa.
As members of the Archaeology and Population in Africa Laboratory, we are also co-leading the Bachelor and Master programs in Prehistoric Archaeology at the Biology Section of the Faculty of Sciences, and we supervise several PhD candidates on African Archaeology.
Current FNS projects
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Peuplement humain et paléoenvironnement en Afrique de l'Ouest - Projet Falémé (100013_185384)
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