Greta Brancaleoni, Ph.D.

Research interests:  Reconstruction of site formation processes at archaeological sites, microstratigraphy, human and environment interaction, domestication, pastoralism, geoarchaeology, Quaternary geology

Current activity:  I am currently analysing anthropogenic and biogenic deposits at several archaeological sites with a microstratigraphic approach comprising micromorphology and complementary micro-analytical methods

Area of research: Central Asia, Central Europe

Affiliation:  Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences,
Warsaw Research Centre, 51/55 Twarda st, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland
Position:  Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Contact:  greta.brancaleoni@twarda.pan.pl

Personal websites
ResearchGate|ORCID|Greta Brancaleoni|GitHub

Photo by S. Shnaider

Education

  • 2019 – 2024 — Doctoral program in Earth and Environmental Sciences (EQF 8), Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw (ING PAN, Poland). 
  • 2014 – 2016 — Postgraduate program in Geology (EQF 7), University of Bologna (Italy). 
  • 2011 – 2014 — Undergraduate program in Geological sciences (EQF 6), University of Bologna (Italy). 

Academic degrees/titles

  • 19/04/2024 — Doctoral defence (PhD) (cum laude). Thesis: Reconstruction of depositional and post-depositional processes at Obishirian sites (Central Asia – Kyrgyzstan). Supervisor: Prof. Maciej T. Krajcarz. Degree conferred 7 June 2024
  • 06/10/2016 — Postgraduate degree (MSc) with full marks (110/110). Thesis: New studies in the Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquina (VT) with GPR and resistivity method (https://amslaurea.unibo.it/11854/). Supervisors: Prof. Silvia Castellaro (University of Bologna), Luigi Perricone 
  • 21/07/2014 — Undergraduate degree (BSc) with first-class honors (110/110 cum laude). Thesis: Geomorphological survey and kinematic features of the Poggio Zampiroli landslide (RA). Supervisor: Prof. Matteo Berti (University of Bologna)

Academic career

  • June 2026 – present — Postdoctoral Research Fellow at INGPAN – Warsaw (Poland)
  • June 2024 – 2026 — Research Assistant at INGPAN – Warsaw (Poland)

  • Jan 2025 – April 2025 —Research visitor, University of Tübingen, Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (Germany)

  • December 2019 – 2021 — Technician at the Stable Isotope Laboratory, ISOLAB (LUIS) INGPAN – Warsaw (Poland)

Professional diploma/titles

  • 24/05/2019 — Professional Diploma in Seismic Microzonation and Local Seismic Response. Thesis: Local Seismic Response 2D Case study in Alpine Valley. Supervisors: Dr Giulia Sgattoni (University of Bologna), Prof. Cristina Pauselli (University of Perugia)
  • 19/09/2018 — Professional association in Italy (Lazio region, Italy)
  • 25/07/2018 — Licenced to practice as a Geologist in Italy

Professional career

  • June 2017 – 2019 — Geologist and GIS expert at GEO3D s.r.l. Via della Chimica snc 02100, Rieti (RI - Italy); www.geo-3d.it. Relevant activities: Seismic Microzonation studies for Rieti, Cantalice, and Accumuli municipalities hit by the 2016-2017 seismic events under the supervision of University of Roma 1 – La Sapienza and MS Center
  • November 2016 – June 2017 — GIS Analyst at Guglielmo Marconi Labs Via Fattori 6, Casalecchio di Reno (BO - Italy), www.new.labs.it

Relevant courses/workshops

  • 8-12 September 2025 1st Archaeological Micromorphology Summer School - Padova. Lecturers: Cristiano Nicosia, Matthew Canti, and Federico Polisca at the University of Padova (Italy)

  • Summer semester 2024/2025 Advanced FTIR course at University of Tübingen. Lecturer: Susan M. Mentzer
  • 25 May 2025 DIG2025 Micromorphology of the Swabian Caves session
  • 30 – 31 March 2023 Micromorphology workshop “Working Group on Archaeological Soil Micromorphology (WASM)” at University of Reading
  • 6 – 10 March 2023 International course on Palaeopedology. IUSS, INQUA
  • 26 – 30 July 2021 Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology Course. Lecturers: Takis Karkanas and Paul Goldberg at “The Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory For Archaeological Science” - THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS (Greece)

Teaching activities

  • 20/01/2026 Class titled “Micromorphology workshop - Biogenic sediments and inputs” within the course led by N. Gryczewska at the Faculty of Archaeology “Epoka kamienia 2.0” for undergraduates.

  • Interdisciplinary field school to study the sites of the stone age, Kyrgyzstan, summer 2019. Talk on my master thesis: New studies in the Etruscan Necropolis of Tarquinia (VT) with GPR and resistivity methods.

Research projects

  • Feb 2026 – now – Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Geoarchaeology, Consolidator grant (ERC, ID 101168587), “Were They Modern Humans? The Problem of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic in West Central Asia”. PI: M. Kot, University of Warsaw
  • Dec 2024 – 2025 — Principal Investigator, MINIATURA individual project (National Science Centre, Poland), “Micro-stratigraphic and multi-method approach to tackling biogenic deposits: the case study of Biśnik Cave (Poland)”, grant 2024/08/X/ST10/01585, 49,489 PLN (≈ 11,632 EUR).
  • 2023 – 2027 — External collaborator, ANR project “PaleoCALM: Archaeology and palaeoecology of high-altitude ecosystems in Central Asia’s landlocked mountains from the Late Glacial to the middle Holocene”. PI: W. Rendu (IFEAC).
  • Jan 2022 – Oct 2024 — Co-investigator and scholarship holder, “Palaeoecological approach to position stands: palaeoenvironmental context of settlement in southern Poland from the late Middle to Upper Palaeolithic” (National Science Centre, Poland, 2020/39/B/HS3/0932). PI: C. Berto, University of Warsaw.
  • Jan – Jun 2023 — Co-investigator, “Multidisciplinary microregional studies of the Middle Palaeolithic in the south-western Chatkal Range (western Tian Shan piedmonts, Uzbekistan)” (National Science Centre, Poland, 2017/25/B/HS3/00520). PI: Prof. Karol Szymczak, University of Warsaw.
  • Apr 2019 – 2022 — Co-investigator and scholarship holder, “Stratigraphy, depositional and post-depositional processes at Palaeolithic cave sites in Central Asia” (National Science Centre, Poland, 2018/29/B/ST10/00906). PI: M. Krajcarz, ING PAN./29/B/ST10/00906. PI:  M. Krajcarz, Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences.

Research fellowships

  • Jan - April 2025 — Research visitor within the GACT (https://geogenarch-tuebingen.de/) research visiting program, Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Tübingen (Germany), project title: Exploring the effects of stabling activities on the geo- and eco-systems of caves in Central Asia: Surungur rockshelter case-study (Kyrgyzstan)

Research visits

  • 19 April - 2 May 2026 — Research visit at the ARCHAEOZOOLOGICAL CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF CENTRAL ASIA "MILZOOSTAN" CNRS-KAZNU, Almaty, Kazakhstan, funded by NAWA-PROM (project number BPI/PRO/2025/1/00004)
  • 27 April - 20 June 2025 — Research visit at the Geoarchaeology Working Group (University of Tübingen, Germany) within the MINIATURA8 activity 2024/08/X/ST10/01585
  • April 2016 – June 2016 — Internship at the British Geological Survey (BGS) - Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth – Nottingham (UK). Activities: BGS landslide impact library, characterizing landslides in the White Peak and Derbyshire, investigation of a landslip in Cressbrook Dale, Derbyshire, geotechnical characterization of soil samples in the BGS Geotechnical Laboratory

Research fieldwork

Since 2019, I participated in n. 7 fieldwork campaigns in Central Asia and n. 4 in Poland.
Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan

  • Keptesh Cave, Alay valley, geoarchaeological investigation during archaeological excavations, 5-9.08.2025
  • Surungur rock-shelter, Sel'Ungur Cave, Obishir 5, Kyzyl-Koshun sites(Aydarken), geoarchaeological investigation at archaeological excavations, 30.07-17.08.2022.
  • Sel'Ungur Cave and Obishir 1 and Obishir 5 sites (Aydarken), geoarchaeological investigation at archaeological excavations led by Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (in cooperation with Bishkek University), 22.08–07.09.2019.

Uzbekistan

  • Darvazalik Cave (Chorvoq) geoarchaeological investigation at archaeological excavations led by University of Warsaw in cooperation with Institute of Archaeology of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, 11-25.08.2025 
  • Kuksaray-2 archaeological site (Angren), geoarchaeological investigation at archaeological excavations led by University of Warsaw in cooperation with Institute of Archaeology of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, 15.08-1.09.2024 
  • Kuksaray-2 archaeological site (Angren), geoarchaeological investigation at archaeological excavations led by University of Warsaw in cooperation with Institute of Archaeology of Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, 12-26.07.2022

Tajikistan

  • Geoarchaeological surveys and investigation at several archaeological sites, such as Istykskaya Cave and Kurteke rockshelter in collaboration with Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, 04.06.2023-03.07.2023

Central Europe
Poland

  • Raj Cave (Chęciny – Poland), geoarchaeological investigations during archaeological excavation led by University of Warsaw, February, June and July 2024.
  • Wisieluch Cave (Kostkowice – Poland), geoarchaeological investigations during archaeological excavation led by University of Warsaw, 7.09–20.09.2022.
  • Poręba Dzierżna site 24, prehistoric flint mine (Udórz – Poland), Nicolaus Copernicus University, geoarchaeological investigation during the archaeological excavation.
  • Perspektywiczna Cave (Udórz – Poland), geoarchaeological investigation during archaeological excavation led by Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland), 22.06-12.07.2019

Scientific publications

My publication record comprises n.15 publications (since 2016), of which n. 5 as first co-author. My H-index currently is 5.

  1. Berto, C., Baca M., Fewlass, Brancaleoni, G.,H., Blain, H-A., Blanco-Lapaz, A., Bujalska B., Krajcarz, M. T., Kropczyk, A., Marciszak, A., Moskal del Hoyo, M., Pereswiet Soltan, A., Szymanek, M., Wertz, K., Kot, M., 2026. Chronological, paleoclimatic, and paleoenvironmental data from Łabajowa Cave (Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, Poland): a comprehensive approach for investigating a complex Late Pleistocene sequence. Quaternary Science Reviews, 376, 109778, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109778 
  2. Gebus-Czupyt B., Huber M., Stienss J., Brancaleoni G.,Hryciuk J., Maciołek U., Siwek K., Chmiel S., 2025. The Potential of the Vistula–Bug Interfluve Resources in the Context of the Sustainable Management of Non-Renewable Phosphorus Resources in Poland. Resources 14: 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14120182.
  3. Brancaleoni, G., Shnaider, S., Blinnikov, M., Boxleitner, K., Mentzer, S.M., Alekseitseva, V., Zhilich, S., Chargynov, T., Alisher kyzy, S., Parkhomchuk, E.V., Spengler, R., Viola, B., Krivoshapkin, A.I., Krajcarz, M.T., 2025. Inner Asian Agropastoralism within the Mongol Empire: Multi‑proxy investigations at Sel’Ungur Cave, Kyrgyzstan. Geoarchaeology 40(6), e70032, 1– 29. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.70032.
  4. Kot, M., Kogai, S., Pavlenok, G., Gryczewska, N., Brancaleoni, G., Krajcarz, M.T., Moska, P., Leloch, M., Khudjanazarov, M., Szymczak, K., Muhtarov, G., Pavlenok, K., 2025. New data for asymmetric core reduction in western Tian Shan piedmonts: Ertash Sai 2 open-air site. Lithic Technology, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/01977261.2024.2319429
  5. Brancaleoni, G., Shnaider, S., Lempart-Drozd, M., Goleń, J., Deput, E., Alisher kyzy, S., Abdykanova, A., Krajcarz, M.T., 2024. A site formation history of Obishir-5, the earliest Neolithic site in the Fergana Valley (Kyrgyzstan). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-024-01967-w
  6. Gryczewska, N., Kot, M., Berto, C., Brancaleoni, G., Krajcarz, M.T., Cyrek, K., Sudoł-Procyk, M., Wojenka, M., Wilczyński, J.W., Chmielewska, M., Sulwiński, M.S., Suska-Malawska, M., 2023. Tracing ephemeral human occupation through archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and molecular proxies at Łabajowa Cave. Antiquity, 97(396). https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2023.147
  7. Brancaleoni, G., Kot, M., Shnaider, S., Mroczek, P., Kurbanov, R., Abdykanova, A., Alisher kyzy, S., Khudjanazarov, M., Pavlenok, K., Krajcarz, M.T., 2023. A closer look at clasts and groundmass: Micromorphological features in sediments with archaeological significance in Obishir and Katta Sai complexes (Central Asia). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 51, 104118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.104118
  8. Ceregatti, L., Berto, C., Fewlass, H., Baca, M., Luzi, E., Brancaleoni, G., Pereswiet-Soltan, A., Peresani, M., 2023. Integration of direct radiocarbon dating, genetic studies and taxonomy of small mammals to investigate the chronology of past climatic oscillations: The Last Glacial Maximum sequence of Grotta della Ferrovia (Fabriano, Italy). Quaternary Science Reviews 309, 108095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108095
  9. Brancaleoni, G., Kot, M., Shnaider, S., Abdykanova, A., Alisher kyzy, S., Khudjanazarov, M., Pavlenok, K., Krajcarz, M.T., 2022. Pebble in the Wind. Micromorphological Features at the Contact between Gravelly Clasts and Silty Groundmass in Loess-Debris Sediments, Central Asiatic Loess Zone. SSRN Electronic Journal (preprint). https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.4142341
  10. Brancaleoni, G., Shnaider, S., Osipova, E., Danukalova, G., Kurbanov, R., Deput, E., Alisher kyzy, S., Abdykanova, A., Krajcarz, M.T., 2022. Depositional history of a talus cone in an arid intermontane basin in Central Asia: An interdisciplinary study at the Late Pleistocene–Late Holocene Obishir-I site, Kyrgyzstan. Geoarchaeology 37, 350–373. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.21892
  11. Taylor, W.T.T., Pruvost, M., Posth, C., Rendu, W., Krajcarz, M.T., Abdykanova, A., Brancaleoni, G., Spengler, R., Hermes, T., Schiavinato, S., Hodgins, G., Stahl, R., Min, J., Alisher kyzy, S., Fedorowicz, S., Orlando, L., Douka, K., Krivoshapkin, A., Jeong, C., Warinner, C., Shnaider, S., 2021. Evidence for early dispersal of domestic sheep into Central Asia. Nature Human Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01083-y
  12. Osipova, E., Danukalova, G., Brancaleoni, G., Krajcarz, M.T., Abdykanova, A., Shnaider, S., 2020. Palaeoenvironmental conditions of the Palaeolithic–Neolithic transition in the Fergana Valley (Central Asia) – New data inferred from fossil mollusсs in Obishir-V rockshelter (Kyrgyzstan). Quaternary International. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2020.11.009
  13. Shnaider, S.V., Alisher kyzy, S., Selin, D.V., Rendu, W., Abdykanova, A., Brancaleoni, G., Krajcarz, M.T. Krivoshapkin, A.I., 2019. Results of Field Studies at the Obishir-5 Site in 2018–2019. Problems of Archaeology, Ethnography, Anthropology of Siberia and Neighboring Territories XXV, 286–292.
  14. Shnaider S.V., Alisher kyzy S., Chargynov T.T., Viola B., Krajcarz M.T., Krajcarz, M. Rendu W., Brancaleoni G., Krivoshapkin A.I. 2019. The experience of the interdisciplinary field school to study the sites of the stone age. Теория и практика археологических исследований 28 (4): 203-208, doi: 10.14258/tpai(2019)4(28).-15.
  15. Brancaleoni, G., Banks, V.J., Leoncini, C., Kirkham, M., Thorpe, J., Castellaro, S., 2016. Peter’s Stone, Cressbrook Dale, Derbyshire: Landslide or paraglacial feature? Mercian Geologist 19.

Conferences, invited talks, and workshops
Since 2017, I delivered scientific presentations (n. 13), contributed with poster (n. 3) at domestic and international conferences, seminar, and workshops. I chaired and co-chaired two sessions at the ViMi, organized a workshop “The Biśnik Cave Coprolite Meeting” in my Institute in 2026, and was involved in the organization of the DIG 2025. The most relevant contributions are listed below.

  • Orazbaev Meeting 21-25 April 2026, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Oral presentation: "PONDING, PASTURES, AND MOBILITY: MICRO-SCALE AND BIOMARKER EVIDENCE FOR SEASONAL HERDING IN INNER ASIA. Authors: Greta Brancaleoni, S. Shnaider, N. Égüez, T. Chargynov. The participation of Greta Brancaleoni was funded by NAWA-PROM (project number BPI/RO/2025/1/00004)
  • The Biśnik Cave Coprolite Meeting 29-30 Jan 2026, Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences. Presentation "A multi-proxy approach applied to coprolites from Biśnik Cave". Authors: Greta Brancaleoni, Susan M. Mentzer,  Elena Marinova-Wolff.
  • DIG2025 21-25 May, 2025 "Developing International Geoarchaeology & AK Geoarchäologie", Tübingen, Germany. Poster "Micro-stratigraphic and multi-method approach to tackling biogenic deposits: The case study of Biśnik Cave (Poland)."  Authors: Greta Brancaleoni, Susan Mentzer, Adrian Marciszak, Magdalena Sudoł-Procyk, Krzysztof Cyrek, Magdalena Krajcarz, Maciej T. Krajcarz (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18084509)
  • ASHE Colloquium 7 Feb 2025 University of Tübingen. Invited Speaker: "Chasing the flock: A geoarchaeological perspective on early herding in Central Asia (Obishir-5 to Surungur, Kyrgyzstan)"
  • Workshop AIQUA 4-5 March, 2025 "La Geoarcheologia in Italia: Storia, Applicazioni e Prospettive Future". Invited Speaker: Contesti di grotta: metodi e applicazioni (Cave contexts: methods and applications)
  • Virtual Archaeological Soil Micromorphology Meeting (ViMi5) 24-25 April, 2024. Session chair: "Fumiers, Dung & Coprolites"
  • EAA BELFAST 30 Aug – 2 Sept, 2023 Weaving Narratives. Oral presentation: ‘Site formation processes at two rock-shelter sites of the Obishirian culture in an arid intermontane basin (Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia)’. Authors: G. Brancaleoni, M.T. Krajcarz, S. Shnaider, A. Abdykanova
  • INQUA 2023 Roma XXI INQUA CONGRESS Time for Change, 14-20 July, 2023 Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Session keynote speaker: ‘Site formation processes and post-depositional disturbances at two rock-shelter sites of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition (Obishirian culture) in an arid intermontane basin in Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia)’. Authors: G. Brancaleoni, M.T. Krajcarz, S. Shnaider, A. Abdykanova
  • WASM & IMAA 2023 at University of Reading UK. Working Group on Archaeological Soil Micromorphology (WASM) on 30-31 March, 2023. Integrated Microscopy Approaches in Archaeobotany (IMAA) School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science. Oral presentation: ‘The Obishir-5: A rock shelter site bearing traces of human related activities connected with pastoralism in Kyrgyzstan’. Authors: G. Brancaleoni, M.T. Krajcarz, S. Shnaider, A. Abdykanova

Non-scientific publications
Emidio di Treviri research group (2018). Sul Fronte del Sisma – Una inchiesta militante sul post-terremoto dell’Appennino Centrale (2016-2017) – Deriveapprodi – ISBN978-88-6548-238-4. pp 320

Awards

  • 2026 — Travel grant, Initiative of Excellence – Research University University of Warsaw, for a research visit to the University of Tübingen (visit forthcoming).

  • April-May 2026— Travel grant, NAWA-PROM (BPI/RO/2025/1/00004), Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences.

  • 2024/2025 — Scholarship for best young scientist, Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences.

  • 2021/2022, 2022/2023 — Director’s scholarship for best PhD student, Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences.

  • 2020/2021 — Scholarship for PhD students, Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences.

  • 2019/2020 — Scholarship for PhD students, Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences.

Memberships

  • 2026 Society for Archaeological Sciences
  • 2026 ZG Polskiego Towarzystwa Gleboznawczego
  • Member of Steppe Sisters
  • Licensed geologist (Lazio Region, Italy)
  • 2025 Junior member of the Associazione Italiana per lo Studio del Quaternario - Italian Association for the Study of the Quaternary - AIQUA

"Site formation processes are the factors that create the historic and archaeological records” (Schiffer, 1987, 7)

Last update 19/06/2026