Ani Hristonova joined the GACT team in August 2024 as PhD student. She is part of the Geoarchaeology working group at the University of Tübingen and supervised by Dr. Susan Mentzer, Prof. Dr. Christopher Miller and Jun. Prof. Dr. Cosimo Posth. In her master thesis she focused on the micromorphological analysis of stabling deposits in caves. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the microstratigraphy of such sediment sequences and to explore whether deposits resulting from human activities can be integrated into sedimentation models. Furthermore, it argued that neglecting sediments as an essential part of the archaeological record limits our understanding of both technological and social aspects of past human life.
Within GACT, Ani is investigating how micromorphological analysis of stabling deposits in caves can shed light on past human activities and site formation processes. Her research aims to better understand the microstratigraphy of these deposits and to test whether layers shaped by human actions can be meaningfully integrated into sedimentation models. Part of her work also explores whether sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) can complement traditional geoarchaeological data, offering new insights into the archaeological record.
Beyond her academic goals, she is committed to sharing her research with a broader audience and promoting the wider dissemination of geoarchaeological knowledge. Her objective is not only to produce robust scientific data, but also to develop meaningful interpretations of the past— contextualising geoarchaeological results within broader archaeological narratives and reflecting on their relevance for the present.