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Reposted by Katerina Douka

European Research Council (ERC)

@erc.europa.eu

📣 The ERC Starting Grant call results are out!

Find out which early-career researchers will receive funding this year, what they will be investigating, where they will be based... plus lots of other #ERCStG facts & figures for 2025!

➡️ buff.ly/IsafuFh

#FrontierResearch 🇪🇺#EUfunded #HorizonEurope

September 4, 2025 at 10:03 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Tom Higham

@tommyhigham.bsky.social

New paper led by Annette Oertle out today focusing on our work at Castelcivita in Italy. A pleasure to work with our wonderful Italian colleagues.
@katerinad.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

New insights from the application of ZooMS to Late Pleistocene fauna from Grotta di Castelcivita, southern Italy - Scientific Reports

Scientific Reports - New insights from the application of ZooMS to Late Pleistocene fauna from Grotta di Castelcivita, southern Italy

www.nature.com

July 17, 2025 at 9:48 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

MU-Peter Shimon 🀄

@mu-peter.bsky.social

Biomolecular approaches to Pleistocene bones

New insights from the application of ZooMS to Late Pleistocene fauna from Grotta di Castelcivita, southern Italy🏺🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Annette Oertle, Stefano Benazzi @boneslab.bsky.social @tommyhigham.bsky.social @katerinad.bsky.social et al

Newly identified taxa from originally unidentified fragmented bones. (a) CLC0043 Canid from spit 14, (b) CLC536 Canid from spit 30, (c) CLC372 Ursid from Spit 27, (d) CLC400 Ursid from spit 28, (e) CLC534 Ursid from spit 30, (f) CLC476 Rhino from spit 24, (g) CLC503 Rhino from spit 25.

July 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Mareike C Stahlschmidt

@stahlschmidtmc.bsky.social

We had a lovely time at ISBA in Torino and almost managed to gather everyone from Vienna in one pic @heasvienna.bsky.social @isbarchaeology.bsky.social @katerinad.bsky.social

August 30, 2025 at 10:13 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Carli Peters

@carlipeters.bsky.social

Our latest paper is out now in Frontiers in Mammal Science: www.frontiersin.org/journals/mam...

We characterized ZooMS peptide markers for three extinct Australian megafauna species 🦴🧪

Frontiers | Collagen peptide markers for three extinct Australian megafauna species

Recent advancements in biomolecular archaeology, such as stable isotope and ancient DNA research, have expanded our understanding of megafauna extinction pro...

www.frontiersin.org

June 3, 2025 at 8:11 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes

@lemoustier.bsky.social

🏺🧪🦣 The Neanderthal Museum is KILLING IT with their social media responses to complaints because we created a feminist exhibition centering #Neanderthal women... Well +55,000 people have already visited & it's now extended to 2nd November!
www.instagram.com/neanderthalm...

Screenshot of Instagram post, showing exhibition extension poster, with fuschia pink background, yellow writing "Stereotypes: Neanderthalerin", small yellow line drawn simple images of four female Neanderthals of different ages. A blue sticker across the poster saying it's been extended in date.

Text for post:
"Over 55,000 guests in the first months - and most
importantly: so much great feedback. That's why our
special exhibition Stereotypes Neanderthalerin will
remain until the 2nd. Opening November 2025!

We say thank you from the bottom of our hearts
for your visits
for open conversations and discussions
for the wonderful feedback we have received so
far!

The exhibition hits a nerve - because it manages to
make a relationship between current issues and our
history. We look forward to many more meetings and
inspiring conversations with you! "

May 1, 2025 at 8:37 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Greger Larson

@gregerlarson.bsky.social

You know what the world absolutely does not need? Yet another definition for domestication. Get over yourselves people. C'mon!

Ok, maybe just one more. So much fun working with @elinork.bsky.social, Kathryn and Robin. www.pnas.org/doi/full/10....

PNAS

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...

www.pnas.org

May 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

JT Lewis

@jtlewis.bsky.social

Really exciting news from the Ozarks! A bag of seeds dating to the Pre-Contact Period in North America was found and donated to the University of Arkansas museum. Absolutely amazing find and you can read more about it here:
www.reddit.com/r/missouri/c...

UPDATE: The Ancient Ozark Mountain Seed Bag

www.reddit.com

May 17, 2025 at 12:44 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

@BarbaraHorejs

@barbarahorejs.bsky.social

Current approach at S. #Čuka as new @heasvienna.bsky.social proteomics study: Anstasia is sampling Neolithic bone tools for isotopes, aDNA & radiocarbon w/ new methods 😊 fancy 🥳
@oeai.bsky.social @katerinad.bsky.social

April 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Clare Rainsford

@littlebonelady.bsky.social

Absolutely blooming stoked to announce that the zooarchaeology resource pack that I wrote with Dr Michelle Feider for YAC has been published! Aimed at kids 8-16yo, four activities for learning about bones in the past with no skeles needed. Except your own.

www.yac-uk.org/news/new-zoo...

New Zooarchaeology Resource Pack - Archaeology for you

Zooarchaeologist, Clare Rainsford, and Michelle Feider from the University of York, have created a bumper resource pack of activity ideas based on zooarchaeology on behalf of the Young Archaeologistsr...

www.yac-uk.org

April 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes

@lemoustier.bsky.social

🏺🧪 Oh this is FASCINATING - and a site that was already in #Matriarcha!

Magdalena Skipper @magdalenaskipper.bsky.social · Apr 2

DNA rarely preserves well in the Sahara, limiting knowledge of this region’s genetic history & demographic past but now we have genomic data from the Central Sahara, obtained from 2 approx 7,000-year-old Pastoral Neolithic female individuals
🧪

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Ancient DNA from the Green Sahara reveals ancestral North African lineage - Nature

Pastoralism spread through cultural diffusion into the Green Sahara, where an isolated, distinct North African ancestry persisted.

www.nature.com

April 2, 2025 at 7:20 PM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Colleen Morgan

@clmorgan.bsky.social

We are excited to launch Archaeology & AI. It is offered as part of our Digital Archaeology and Digital Heritage MScs, students from any of our Master's courses can enrol. 🏺

We will be offering critical, practice-based projects based on real world case studies.

www.york.ac.uk/students/stu...

Screenshot of the text: This module explores how artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning, predictive analytics, computer vision, large language models (LLM) and generative AIs, can be employed within Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. As a fast-moving suite of technologies, we will introduce you to the field's cutting-edge and examine best practices for data gathering, data management, algorithmic decision-making and interpretation using these tools. Students will gain insights into the potential and challenges of AI for archaeological research. The module will also critically assess ethical considerations surrounding algorithmic bias, intellectual property and responsible stewardship of archaeological information in the context of the ‘AI Revolution’

March 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Dr Emlyn Dodd

@emlynkd.bsky.social

Dissertation season is starting 😬 so we are repeating our researcher training event:
An Intro to Essential Resources for #Classics & #Archaeology Research 🏺

🗓️ 23 April, 2pm (London, BST)
📍 Online via Zoom

Share, especially w/ UG & PG students!

Info+Register: ics.sas.ac.uk/events/intro...

An introduction to essential resources for Classics and Archaeology research

ics.sas.ac.uk

March 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Primate Research and News

@ourprimatepast.bsky.social

A new study evaluates the reliability of enamel proteins for reconstructing primate phylogeny through paleoproteomics. By analyzing genomic data from 232 primate species, researchers find that enamel protein sequences can provide robust phylogenetic insights, even with fossil fragmentation:

Phylogenetic signal in primate tooth enamel proteins and its relevance for paleoproteomics

Abstract. Ancient tooth enamel, and to some extent dentin and bone, contain characteristic peptides that persist for long periods of time. In particular, p

academic.oup.com

February 26, 2025 at 6:51 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

NEaar lab

@neaarlab.bsky.social

So pleased to see Charlotte Blacka's first 1st author paper: innovation was to use tims-TOF #MS for rapid sex estimation method based on amelogenin #palaeoproteomics. At <20min per sample (including prep all the way to data processing), this enables far higher sample numbers: doi.org/10.1002/rcm....

Summary of methodological and analytical variables applied to the three different sets of sample material discussed. Each coloured background represents differences in variables: in green, sampling; blue, acid etching approach; yellow, MS instrument; purple, timsTOF run length.

March 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

johannakrueger.bsky.social

@johannakrueger.bsky.social

(1/6)
Happy to present our publication on the potential of palaeoproteomics for phylogenetic applications, which also made it to the cover of GBE’s February issue.
In a nutshell…

March 3, 2025 at 6:23 PM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Tom Higham

@tommyhigham.bsky.social

Job alert!
@katerinad.bsky.social and I are looking for an archaeologist/archaeological scientist to join us on a 4 year post-doc, helping to manage and participate in field and lab work on 2 ERC grants in our group. We would love to hear from you via the link! 👇
jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Postdoct...

March 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Matthew Collins

@matthewcollins.bsky.social

🧪 4/6 Key finding: You can't just look at diseased bones. Some deadly infections kill so fast they don't leave marks on bones.

The team found pathogen DNA in seemingly healthy teeth too!

February 16, 2025 at 8:53 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Matthew Collins

@matthewcollins.bsky.social

🔬 5/5 Bottom line:

⏰ This is a wake-up call for the field.

Using ancient proteins to study the past is powerful, but we need better reference data and more rigorous methods.

www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5...

New avian protein sequences improve resolution of palaeoproteomic approaches to taxonomic identification & reveal widespread intraspecies variability

Biomolecules offer unparalleled insights into ancient life, from evolutionary pathways of organisms to the health and cultural practices of our ancestors. Biomineral-associated proteins, such as thos...

www.researchsquare.com

February 16, 2025 at 8:37 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Matthew Collins

@matthewcollins.bsky.social

An important new paper by @beademarch.bsky.social and her team challenges how we use ancient proteins to study the past.

Analysis of 1,832 sequences from waterfowl (ducks & geese) reveals why palaeoproteomics isn't the simple solution we hoped for...
👇🧵 1/4

www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5...

A circular phylogenetic tree displaying the protein annotation patterns across 160 Anatidae (waterfowl) genomes. The tree branches radiate from the center, with each tip representing a different species. The outer ring consists of colored dots representing 13 different proteins, with black dots indicating >70% complete sequences, pink dots showing <70% complete sequences, and white dots showing no annotation. The samples are grouped and colored by genus, with major genera like Aythya, Spatula, Mergus, Chloephaga, Tadorna, and MelanitaSomateria labeled. Below the tree, a legend shows sequence counts and mean coverage percentages for each protein, ranging from 81-168 sequences and 79.9%-99.9% coverage. A node score legend indicates bootstrap support values using different shades of grey."

February 16, 2025 at 8:24 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Matthew Collins

@matthewcollins.bsky.social

The HPB-MALDI team dropped an open database of 11,055 mass spec signatures from pathogenic bacteria.

#ZooMS folks - could this be a useful roadmap for making our data truly open & accessible?

Everything on #Zenodo - a useful template for a #ZooMS DB 💽.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Pie charts illustrating database content by strains and species of selected genera containing highly pathogenic bacterial species: Bacillus, Brucella, Burkholderia, Francisella, and Yersinia. The size (area) of each pie chart is proportional to the number of strains of the given genus represented in the data base. Furthermore, each pie chart contains segments that provide further information. The size and color intensity of the individual segments are proportional, or inversely proportional, respectively, to the number of spectra recorded from the given species. The chart segments further contain information regarding the number of strains per species (numbers in the inner circles) and the number of spectra per species (outer circle). Names of highly pathogenic (BSL-3) microbial species or subspecies are plotted in pink framed text boxes. Bacillus cereus group sp.*: Members of the B. cereus group for which no species assignment is available.

February 9, 2025 at 6:38 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Matthew Collins

@matthewcollins.bsky.social

Have/nearly have a PhD?
≤7 years post-doc experience?
Working outside UK?
Not a UK citizen?

BA & Royal Society offering 2-yr Fellowships for early career researchers to come to the UK!
💷 Includes:
Research expenses £12k
Relocation up to £8k
🗓️ Deadline: Mar 18, 2025 (17:00 GMT)
#ResearchFunding

International Fellowships 2025

The International Fellowships Programme enables researchers to work for two years at a UK institution with the aim of building a globally connected, mobile research and innovation workforce.

www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk

February 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Reposted by Katerina Douka

Sam Brown

@drsambrown.bsky.social

My first post on here and it's for a JOB ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣 The University of Tübingen is seeking to find a post-doctoral researcher for a 3-year position, funded through the DFG (13 TV-L, 39,5 h/week). More info here: tinyurl.com/4xbdya5t #archaeology #palaeoproteomics #job #ZooMS

Three-year position for a researcher in Archaeo- and Palaeoproteomics (m/f/d, E 13 TV-L, 39,5 h/week)

tinyurl.com

February 3, 2025 at 8:54 AM