Areti Leventi is a PhD candidate in the Neanderthal Legacy research project.

More information about Areti Leventi

Office days

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Research

Micro-wear studies have emphasized on exploring the function of archaeological artefacts that are considered well-preserved for this type of analysis. However, when it comes to Palaeolithic assemblages applying such a method can be a difficult task to accomplish when we want to explore how lithic artefacts were used and by whom.

This PhD research is part of the Neandertal Legacy project led by Prof. Marie Soressi. It reflects on the role that micro-wear analysis can have when we want to better understand site formation processes and their impact on lithic artefacts. To do that, different scientific methods will be utilized; micro-wear analysis, taphonomy, experimental archaeology on stone tools from Quincay cave, France dated at approx. 40.000 years ago.

The research aims to explore the lithic integrity of the assemblage, if any, in relation to the context and understand the origins of the wear patterns and preservation of the lithics; an issue that might affect the functional interpretation when reconstructing past human behavior on paleolithic contexts that were being subjected to complex site formation processes.

Teaching activities

Emphasis on experimental archaeology, material culture stydies, taphonomy on lithic artefacts.

Curriculum vitae

I hold a BA in Archaeology and History of Art from the University of Crete in Greece (2015-2020). During my bachelor studies I focused on prehistory and fieldwork methods. I studied in the University of Southampton as part of the Erasmus+ mobility program (2018). Since then I participated in different fieldwork projects in Greece, United Kingdom, Israel and France while focusing on prehistoric sites (Paleolithic, Neolithic sites). I completed my MSc degree in Leiden University specialized in Archaeological Sciences, Material Culture Studies (2021). In my Master thesis titled as "Scraping for Answers: Use-wear analysis on Châtelperronian end scrapers from Quincay, France" I applied micro-wear analysis to better understand how Paleolithic stone tools, and specifically end scrapers were used and what activities were potentially conducted at Quincay, in a period of the demise of the late Neandertals.