Caroline Bach has joined the ESTER team as a PhD researcher, bringing new perspectives on the relationships between demographic developments, technological innovations, and societal transformations in prehistoric Europe.
Her doctoral research will focus on population dynamics in prehistoric Europe, with particular attention to the 4th millennium BCE. By bringing together archaeological evidence from different regions, she will investigate how demographic changes relate to innovations, environmental conditions, and societal developments. Her work will also explore the potential of different anthropological indicators for reconstructing past population dynamics.
We are particularly pleased that Caroline brings expertise in ancient DNA (aDNA) and the estimation of effective population sizes, adding valuable perspectives to ESTER’s multi-proxy approach. This expertise also opens up opportunities to investigate the relationships between demographic change and the spread of infectious diseases and epidemics in prehistoric societies.
By combining archaeological evidence with insights from population genetics and ESTER’s quantitative modelling framework, Caroline’s research will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors shaping prehistoric population dynamics. We are excited to have her on board!