Carmen specialises in Human Evolution, Palaeoanthropology, Lithic Technology and Geoarchaeology.
Carmen, is a postdoctoral research associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research (Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge). This is her first postdoctoral position (which she started at the end of April 2023), after completing a PhD at the Institute of Archaeology (University College London). Carmen is a Palaeolithic archaeologist and Africanist, specialising in Human Evolution, Palaeoanthropology, lithic technology and Geoarchaeology.
Carmen’s main research interest focuses on African Early and Middle Stone Age (the equivalent to Europe's Lower and Middle Palaeolithic) lithic (stone) tools. At the moment she is leading a research project funded by the Pouroulis Foundation that verses about the singularities of a cultural industry from southern Africa known as the Howiesons Poort, dated to about 66,000-58,000 years ago.
Alongside Dr. Alastair Key (University of Cambridge) and Dr. Paloma de la Peña (Universidad de Granada, Spain), they aim to more precisely determine the temporal boundaries of this industry using R-based temporal modelling.
Additionally, Carmen is conducting a first-hand technological analysis of lithic materials from two key Howiesons Poort sites: Sibhudu and Border Cave, which requires her to spend several months each year in South Africa.
She says, “I love Archaeology, I've always been fascinated. I have been a History lover since I learned to read (I have a BA in History from the Universidad de Sevilla, in Spain). I find it fascinating to deal with the challenges that Stone Age archaeological research poses, as well as to elucidate the behaviour of extinct species and human groups from material culture. I have been working in archaeological research since I finished my undergraduate degree and this postdoctoral position enables me to put all that acquired knowledge into work. It also allows me to share my expertise with my colleagues and the students, as well as keep learning from them, learning new techniques and visiting exciting sites across the world.”
Working in Archaeological research ultimately makes Carmen happy, that's the main reason she does it. “Social Sciences, particularly History and Archaeology, help us understand our contemporary world, our social and cultural background, and our society as a whole. I cannot see better disciplines than these to acquire critical thinking. Being able to work on what ultimately is my greatest passion is a stroke of luck and a privilege, and I hope to keep enjoying these for a while.”
When Carmen arrived at the University of Cambridge just over a year ago, she was unfamiliar with its college system, but soon learned that some colleges do share an atmosphere and principles closer to those that she experienced and loved while at the UCL Institute of Archaeology: “I had to do some research but ultimately I felt my own self identifies closer to Lucy Cavendish than to other colleges. I felt this first during the interview process, but also during the events I attended or participated in at Lucy. I feel very comfortable and I can't wait to keep participating and engaging with other peers and fellows.”