Aitor Burguet-Coca is a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Archaeology.

More information about Aitor Burguet-Coca

Office Days

Monday to Friday

Research

I am an early career researcher with a deep interest in human uses of fire and plant management across Prehistory. My scientific interest and scientific production reach the study of a wide variety of materials, archaeological contexts, and issues from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age.

My research lines are:

1. Palaeolithic pyroarchaeology and fuel management
2. Fumiers sequences and animal-plant interactions
3. Experimental Archaeology and modern reference collection.

I have deep experience in the analysis of phytolith and dung spherulite assemblages, in the acquisition and analysis of mineral signals through Infrared spectra (FTIR) and in the design and development of archaeo-experimental projects.
My research is distinguished by its multidisciplinary and the integration of different disciplines based on the analysis of the microarchaeological record, to develop a robust interpretation of the pyroarchaeological record and human-plant management across prehistory.

Currently, I’m going in-depth with the analysis of pyroarchaeological records, increasing the geographic and temporal range and expanding the available microarchaeological tools. In this sense, my Marie Skłodowska-Curie-IF postdoctoral project FIRE-TOOLS (ID:101063904), focuses on the characterization of the pyroarchaeological record in the Middle Pleistocene archaeological record. The selected sequences have two elements in common: the indirect evidence of fire, in the form of burned remains and the presence of charcoals; and the chronological range, between 400-300ky.

I will explore the suitability of a novel integration of techniques, including archaeobotany, geoarchaeology, and analytical chemistry for discerning the anthropogenic origin of the fire. The goal is to generate new data that will have an impact on the debate about the use of fire, betting on a powerful methodological structure to position the project results in a prominent place to advance knowledge about pyrotechnology in the genus Homo. These results will be a positive contribution to enhancing analytical and methodological approaches applicable widely in any type of fire or fire-related feature, without chronological or geographical constraints.

Curriculum vitae

2023-Currently- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellow. Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.
2022- Margarita Salas Postdoctoral Fellow. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain and Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.
2015-2020 - International Doctorate in Quaternary and Prehistory - Universitat Rovira i Virgili  & Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA, Tarragona, Spain).
2012-2014 - Master’s Degree in Quaternary Archaeology and Human Evolution. Universitat Rovira i Virgili  Tarragona, Spain.
2008-2012 - Bachelor’s degree in History. Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Publications