Staff

I am an archaeologist specialized in the study of archaic stone tool assemblages. My research combines specially developed classical and innovative methodologies, with the aim of better understanding the typological, technological and functional aspects of different sets of lithic tools. My research also investigates characteristics of human cognitive behavior and evolution in the earliest times.

My interest in ancient human culture began when I was a student at Università degli studi di Padova (Italy) where, after I obtained a Bachelor Degree in Archaeology (Classical archaeology and production techniques) (2004-2007), I earned my Master’s degree in Archeological Sciences (Protohistory, 2008-2012). In later years, working as a site technician and developing my interests in the study of archaic lithic assemblages, I continued my training on an international level by obtaining a second Master’s degree (2013-2015) in Évolution, patrimoine naturel et sociétés, (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, France) and Quaternary Archaeology and Human Evolution (Universitat Rovira y Virgili, Catalunya, Spain - International Master Erasmus Mundus).

During my Ph.D (2017-2021) - in Quaternary and Prehistory as Erasmus Mundus (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona) funded by a post-master financial aid from the Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano (Alto Adige-Südtirol, Italy) - I joined numerous international collaborative research and excavation missions in different areas of the world. Thanks to the creation of numerous collaborations around my research topic, I had the opportunity to analyze many of the oldest Eurasian stone tool assemblages framed in the so-called ‘Oldowan techno-complex’. These studies highlighted researching about: qualitative and morphological aspects of the raw materials (to determine hominin selective processes), behavioral and technological characteristics of the first hominins to occupy Eurasia (from 1.8 to 1 million years ago).

Currently, I hold a Margarita Salas Grant for the training of young doctors (Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation) at the URV (2021URV-MS-03), funded by the European Union–NextGeneration EU, the Ministry of Universities and Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan 09/2022 - 09/2023. After my first year of mobility at the Università degli studi di Ferrara (Italy), I continue my research at the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA, Spain). My postdoctoral research activity continues with investigating ancient prehistoric stone toolkits in order to ascertain their significance as key markers indicating the territorial dispersion and cognitive-technological capabilities of our Homo ancestors. My aim is to evaluate these factors thanks to type-technological comparisons between different sets of human-made industries attributable to the first waves of population of the Eurasia.

Scopus Author ID: 57200226721
Orcid code: 0000-0003-1703-9801
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stefania_Titton2