University of Bristol Lead Applicant: Dr Lorena Becerra Valdivia, ADepartment of Anthropology and Archaeology
International Collaborators: Dr Haidee Cadd, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia
This project is a collaboration between Dr. Lorena Becerra-Valdivia (University of Bristol) and Dr. Haidee Cadd (University of Wollongong) to advance our understanding of how Southern Hemisphere societies adapted to abrupt climatic changes in the past. Focused on South America, the partnership combines expertise in archaeological science, palaeoecology, and climate modelling to explore human-environment dynamics during events such as the mid-Holocene aridification. The project involves preparing an ERC Starting Grant proposal to investigate Holocene climate events and their impact on South American populations, providing insights that will inform modern climate resilience strategies. Additionally, the collaboration will produce a co-authored paper for submission to PNAS, analysing late Pleistocene South American landscapes by integrating and summarising vegetation and fire-history proxies. A final component of the project is the development of an AI tool for palynology, designed to analyse pollen data more efficiently, enabling detailed reconstructions of past environments. This partnership strengthens international research ties, advances interdisciplinary work, and delivers impactful research outputs to enhance understanding of past human-environment interactions whilst fostering innovation in palaeoecological research.
