During six months and finishing in summer 2026, Stefania Christou conducted an Erasmus+ traineeship at the Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica (ICAC-CERCA) as a visiting student from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece).
Throughout her stay, she received practical training in archaeobotanical and biomolecular methods commonly applied to archaeological research, supervised by Dr Alexandra Livarda and Dr Theoni Baniou. In archaeobotany, she was involved in the complete workflow, including soil sampling, flotation, sorting, and the identification of archaeological macro-remains, using archaeobotanical material from Roman Guissona. These activities provided first-hand experience in the recovery and analysis of botanical evidence used to reconstruct past environments, agriculture, and foodways.
Stefania also gained laboratory experience in Organic Residue Analysis (ORA), participating in the preparation of ceramic samples for chemical analysis and the identification of organic compounds preserved within archaeological pottery. This training introduced her to biomolecular approaches used to investigate the function of ceramic vessels and the exploitation of plant and animal resources in the past.
In addition to her laboratory training, Stefania participated in the archaeological excavation of the Roman city of Iesso (Guissona), directed by Prof. Núria Romaní Sala of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The fieldwork offered an opportunity to integrate excavation practices with laboratory analyses, illustrating how archaeological, archaeobotanical, and biomolecular evidence can be combined to better understand ancient societies and past foodways.
Her Erasmus+ traineeship reflects ICAC’s commitment to providing international students with interdisciplinary training and practical research experience. By combining fieldwork, laboratory techniques, and archaeological interpretation, the placement contributed to the development of valuable scientific skills while fostering academic collaboration between ICAC and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
At GIAP/ICAC Stefania adapted easily in the routine and practices of the archaeobotany team and her excellent work will lead to at least one academic publication. She has been a brilliant team player and a fast learner. We wish Stefania all the very best in the postgraduate studies that she is now embarking and her future career!
