My scientific interest lies in improving our understanding of the relationship between humans and plants from a long-term perspective. To this end, my research focuses on 2 different thematic perspectives: a) The reconstruction of the vegetation and the environment of human occupied landscapes; b) The human use of plant resources, which includes the study of fire, the origins and development of agriculture and herding and the impact on the landscape. Methodologically, I apply a fine-resolution, multi-proxy analysis based on the identification of the mineralogical composition and of the microscopic content (not visible to the naked eye) of archaeological sediments, and closely related sediments, to identify plant remains (phytoliths, starches, calcium oxalate crystals) and fecal remains (spherulites). More recently, and in order to better understand vegetation changes over time associated with freshwater-settings and regional ecological conditions, I have also added the study of siliceous biological micro-remains (diatoms, sponge spicules, chrysophytes). Each of these microremains has particular characteristics, which make them extremely resistant to time. As a result, they are commonly identified in archaeological sediments and provide pivotal information on human past activities and environmental conditions. Microarchaeology, which is the study of the microscopic record (invisible to the naked eye), can contribute significantly to our understanding of past human behavior (Weiner 2010).  

Some of the most remarkable aspects of my research include the vegetation reconstruction of the environments associated with the development of early hominins in East Africa and early homo populations in South Africa, the study of fire-related activitites of Middle/Upper Paleolithic Mediterranean populations and Middle Stone Age South African populations, and the study of the origins and development of agriculture and herding in the Mediterranean and the consequent impact on the landscape. In the last years, I have also devoted part of my time to the development of digital platforms to exchange databases to improve dissemination of microarchaeological research and promote fruitful research discussions (see www.PhytCore.org).