Andrea Cardarelli is an archaeologist specializing in European and Mediterranean Prehistory and Protohistory. He completed his studies at La Sapienza University of Rome and served as Director of the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Modena from 1982 to 2002. Since 2002, he has been a Full Professor of Prehistory and Protohistory, initially at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and subsequently, from 2007 onwards, at La Sapienza University of Rome.
Throughout his career, Cardarelli has directed and co-directed numerous archaeological excavation campaigns in Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements and cemeteries. Among the sites involved are Casinalbo, Tabina di Magreta, Baggiovara, Gaggio di Castelfranco Emilia, Cave Macchioni di Spilamberto, Campagnola di Palagano, Monte S. Giulia di Monchio, and Cava Fallona di Savignano in the Emilia area; Pieve di Carpegna (PU), Monte Cimino (Soriano nel Cimino – VT), and Monte Croce Guardia (Arcevia - Ancona) in Central Italy; and Grotta Pavolella and Broglio di Trebisacce (CS) in Southern Italy. Since 2023, he has been the scientific director of the excavation at Frattesina di Fratta Polesine.
He is the author of over 200 scientific publications, including 7 monographs and excavation reports, numerous articles in peer-reviewed international and national journals. At the Department of Ancient Sciences of La Sapienza University of Rome, Cardarelli is the coordinator of the Archaeology section.
In 2004, he was responsible for the research unit at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia for the PRIN project "Aspects of specialized craftsmanship in ancient societies; from protohistory to the Roman era. An archaeometric approach for the study of bronzes and glasses." In 2008, he was responsible for the research unit at Sapienza University of Rome for the PRIN project "Fortifications, acquisition of goods and wealth, concentrations of power in protohistoric Italy." Since 2020, he has been the Principal Investigator of the PRIN Project "Herds: strategies and role of livestock farming in the economic dynamics of protohistoric societies in the central Mediterranean."
Since 2019, he has served as the editorial director of Origini - Journal of prehistory and protohistory of ancient civilizations. Additionally, since the same year, he has been a member of the scientific committee of the Museum of Civilizations. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Scientific Council of the National Research Council.
Throughout his career, he has integrated scientific research with public engagement in archaeology. He has conceived and coordinated numerous archaeological exhibitions, including "Terramare: The oldest civilization of the Po Valley" (Modena 1997, with M. Bernabò Brea and M. Cremaschi), "The Urns of the Forti: Stories of life and death in a Bronze Age community" (Modena 2014, with C. Zanasi), and "Etruscans Master Craftsmen" (Cerveteri-Tarquinia 2019, with A. Naso).
From 1998 to 2004, he directed the European project Archeolive; European Protohistory Archaeological Park, funded under the Raphael Program (EU). He conceived and directed the realization of the archaeological park and the open-air museum of the Terramara of Montale.