João Marreiros

Research Group Leader

TraCEr - Laboratory for Traceology and Controlled Experiments

MONREPOS-Leibniz Zentrum für Archaeologie (LEIZA)

ICArEHB, Uni. Algarve

Biography

Welcome! I’m an archaeologist, currently working at the Laboratory for Traceology and Controlled Experiments (TraCEr) at MONREPOS (https://monrepos.leiza.de/en), LEIZA (https://www.leiza.de). I’m also an Affiliated Researcher at the ICArEHB (http://www.icarehb.com).

I’m interested on unraveling early hominin technological evolution, with special fascination on understanding how stone tools were designed, produced, and used. I found intriguing how technological choices made in the past guided us to what we are today. To investigate this topic, I focus on artefact analysis, laboratory experiments, and excavation of palaeolithic sites.

This independent website is about my research on Pleistocene Archaeology! The main aim is to disseminate my research, share data and details about my projects in the lab and field. Feel free to get in touch!

I’ll be regularly updating this site with news on my projects, brief intros to my most recent published papers and other research material. Additionally, you can also find me online on Twitter, GitHub and ResearchGate.

Interests

Stone tool production, design and use
Past hominin technological innovations
Palaeolithic archaeology
Archaeological survey and excavation methods
Robots in experimental archaeology

Education

Post-doctoral fellowsip, 2014-2017
ICArEHB and CSCI (Institución Milá y Fontanals)
PhD in Prehistoric Archaeology, 2010-2013
Universidade do Algarve
MA in Archaeology, 2007-2009
Universidade do Algarve
BA in Cultural Heritage, 2003-2007
Universidade do Algarve

Experience

Professional appointments

Research Group Leader

TraCEr, MONREPOS, Leibniz Zentrum für Archaeologie.

Jan 2017 – Present Neuwied, Germany

Adjunct Lecture

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität

Jan 2017 – Present Mainz, Germany

Associated researcher

ICArEHB, International research Centre for archaeology and evolution of Human behavior

Jan 2017 – Present Faro, Portugal

Postodoctoral fellow

ICArEHB, UAlg & IMF-CSCI

Jan 2014 – Dec 2016 Faro, Portugal & Barcelona, Spain

Visiting Assistant Professor

Universidade do Algarve. Faculdade das Ciências Humanas e Sociais

Jan 2013 – Dec 2017 Faro, Portugal

PhD candidate

ICArEHB, UAlg

Jan 2010 – Dec 2013 Faro, Portugal

Accomplishments

Research grants and fellowships

NeanderCloud, New and old technologies to understand MP human tool technology, design, and use

Research Grant: DFG, German Research foundation Mar 2024 – Jan 2027

Innovations, On the origins of human technological innovations, the Late Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in the Levant

Research Grant: The Leakey Foundation Feb 2024 – Feb 2026

StoneUseWear, Using controlled experiments and 3D data quantification to understand stone use-wear formation

Marie Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) (MSCA-IF-EF-ST) Oct 2017 – Jan 2017

The contribution of use-wear and residue analysis for the study of the Earliest Anatomically Modern Humans in Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

FCT Postdoctoral fellowship, (SFRH/BPD/94668/2013) Jan 2014 – Dec 2017

The lithic organization and variability during the Gavettian in the Iberian Peninsula

FCT PhD fellowship, (SFRH/BD/65301/2009) Jul 2010 – Dec 2013

Publications

10 most recent publications

Quickly discover relevant content by filtering publications.

Chimpanzee wooden tool analysis advances the identification of percussive technology

The ability of humans to mediate environmental variation through tool use is likely the key to our success. However, our current …

Lydia Luncz, et al.

DOI

Enhancing lithic analysis: Introducing 3D-EdgeAngle as a semi-automated 3D digital method to systematically quantify stone tool edge angle and design

In this paper we presente a new method, semi-automated, to measure and calculate the variability of the edge of stone tools’ edges. 3D-EdgeAngle calculates the edge angle at any point in a high resolution and scale of analysis, and helps to evaluate how tool use and retouch affect the desing of stone tools found in the archaeological record.

Lisa Schunk, et al.

DOI

Editorial paper special issue “Contact materials: The ‘Other’ in experimental use-wear studies”

This paper is a introductory note to a organised symposium at the EAA conference meeting. Participation in this symposium aimed at presenting and discussion studies focusing on the relevance of contact material used on use-wear-related experimentation. The paper provides a general framework and brief summeary of each contribution! It was a very useful and fun session! Thanks to all participants. Several papers have been published in the same JASr issue.

João Marreiros, et al.

DOI

Aurignacian dynamics in Southeastern Europe based on spatial analysis, sediment geochemistry, raw materials, lithic analysis, and use-wear from Românești-Dumbrăvița

This paper focuses on presenting the results of several excavations at the open-air site of Românești-Dumbrăvița, Romania. In the paper we report data on the archaeological assemblages, including stone tool technology and use-wear analysis, site formation and dating. This is a very important Aurignacian site from East-Central Europe.

Wei Chu, et al.

DOI

Living on the slope. The Middle and Upper Paleolithic occupation of Feldberg “Steinacker”

This article is dedicated to the Paleolithic open-air site of Feldberg “Steinacker”, located between the Rhine and the Black Forest …

Marcel Bradtmoller, et al.

DOI

The Middle Paleolithic ground stones tools of Nesher Ramla unit V (Southern Levant): A multi-scale use-wear approach for assessing the assemblage functional variability

In this study, in present the study of the assemblage of ground stone tools from the Middle Palaeolithic of Nesher. In this amazingly preserved site, several types of gst have been reported, showing different morphologies and types of damage. We explore, via experimental replication and multi-scale use-wear analysis, the origins of such damage. Our results show that different types of tools were intentionally used for different activities at site.

Eduardo Paixão, et al.

DOI

Initial Upper Paleolithic bone technology and personal ornaments at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria)

This paper reports the use-wear analysis of the Osseous artifacts from the Initial Upper Paleolithic of the archaeological site of Bacho Kiro (Bulgaria). Our study shows that various bone tool morphologies have been used on-site to process animal material. The variety of personal ornaments also illustrates the technological flexibility of the early AMH populations that entered Europe”

Naomi Martisius, Et al.

DOI

Using mechanical experiments to study ground stone tool use: Exploring the formation of percussive and grinding wear traces on limestone tools

This paper explores the functionality of Ground Stone tool on Limestone and the formation of use-wear traces. Driven by the tool-type variability observed in the Middle Paleolithic of the Levant, we combine experimental and use-wear analysis through a multi-scale and high-resolution approach. A new experimental setup for percussion and grinding replication is also presented and discussed. These data is a fundamental library for the interpretation of the archaeological record.

Eduardo Paixão, Et al.

DOI

Quina Retouch Does Not Maintain Edge Angle Over Reduction

In this study we aimed to evaluate the impact of Quina Retouch on the maintenance of the edge angle on the Middle Paleolithic scrapers. By addressing this question we also discussed past human technological strategies and techniques to improve stone tool function and durability over time.

Sam Lin, João Marreiros

DOI

Evaluating the microscopic effect of brushing stone tools as a cleaning procedure

The main goal of this study was to test the influence of different cleaning procedures applied on micro surface texture of stone tools. With this paper, we also aimed to stress-out the need of adopting cleaning methods that do not affect the microscopi analysis of artifacts surface.

Antonella Pedergnana, Et al.

DOI

See all publications

Projects

Principal Investigator

New and old technologies to understand MP human tool technology, design, and use

NeanderCloud (DFG)

TraCEr - Laboratory for Traceology and Controlled Experiments

TraCEr, at MONREPOS-LEIZA

On the origins of human technological innovations, the Late Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in the Levant

Innovations (Leakey foundation)

Palaeolithic human coastal adaptations in southwestern Iberia.

PaleoCoast

Recent opportunities

Job call and internships

Internships for junior and senior researchers

If you are interested on my research and want to collaborate, please get in touch! I often welcome students at TraCEr (MONREPOS-LEIZA) and ICArEHB for internships. These normally include training on use-wear analysis, experimental archaeology, and imaging equipment. I’m also happy to support PhD and postdoctoral researchers in the field of use-wear analysis and controlled experiments! Drop me a message!

João Marreiros

Last updated on Apr 29, 2024