21.09.2020

"I love the challenge of reconstructing past human behavior by putting together small pieces of information."

In Conversation with Research Alumnus Dr. Michael Toffolo, Junior Research Chair at the Research Institute on Archaeomaterials-Research Center in Physics Applied to Archaeology (IRAMAT-CRP2A), Bordeaux Montaigne University, France.

What is your connection with Tübingen and the University?
In 2015, I was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt fellowship at the University of Tübingen, where I was hosted by Prof. Christopher Miller (Institut für Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie). My research project focused on developing a method to obtain accurate radiocarbon dates from the mineral fraction of archaeological wood ash. I worked at the University until December 2016, but kept on collaborating with Professor Miller after the end of my stay. We are currently conducting research at two prehistoric sites in South Africa together to understand human evolution in the interior of the sub-continent over the last 100,000 years.

Where are you based?
I am Junior Research Chair at the Research Institute on Archaeomaterials-Research Center in Physics Applied to Archaeology (IRAMAT-CRP2A), Bordeaux Montaigne University, France.