Research:
Education
2022 – PhD student in Prehistory at Université Côtes d’Azur, Nice, France and University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
2022 Internship and visiting student, at PACEA, de la préhistoire à l’actuel: culture, environnement et anthropologie, UMR 5199, Université de Bordeaux, France.
2019 – 2021 Post graduate School in Archaeology (Curriculum Prehistory and Protohistory), University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Thesis: “An experimental protocol for the taphonomic analysis of lithic industries. The case study of Wadi Lazalim (Tunisia).”
Supervisor: Professor Savino di Lernia; co-supervisor: Prof. Cristina Lemorini Grade: 70/70 with honours
2015 – 2019 Master Degree in Archaeology (Curriculum Prehistory and Protohistory), University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Thesis: “Intra-site spatial analysis of the stone structures from Takarkori rockshelter (Southwest Libya) during the Early and Middle Holocene (10.200 – 4.200 cal BP)”
Supervisor: Professor Savino di Lernia; co-supervisor: Dr. Marina Gallinaro Grade: 110/110 with honours
2012 – 2013 Scholarship “Erasmus Programme for Education”, Universidad de Murcia, Facultad de Letras, Murcia, Spain.
2010 – 2014 Bachelor Degree in Archaeology, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy Grade: 109/110
Academic research history
2023 Archaeological excavation and survey: in charge of the excavation of the Holocene site of Lakora-03, Assayta , Afar; Ethiopia. PI : Dr. Lamya Khalidi, CEPAM, CNRS, Université Côte d’Azur
2023 Archaeological excavation : Gotera 10, Konso ; Ethiopia. PI : Dr. Enza Spinapolice, University of Rome La Sapienza.
2023 Archaeological excavation : Yab6 rockshelter (Dhaka Kura), Borana Zone, Oromia ; Ethiopia. PI : Dr. Marina Gallinaro, University of Rome La Sapienza.
2022 Archaeological excavation: Abri Malaurie (Rocamadour, Lot), France. PI: Dr. Mathieu Langlais and Véronique Laroulandie, PACEA, CNRS, Université de Bordeaux.
2022 Laboratory analyses : (H)origin project. Residues and traceological sample from lithic artifacts from Gotera 10 site, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PI: Prof. Enza Spinapolice, University of Rome La Sapienza.
2021 Archaeological excavation: Battifratta Cave, Poggio Nativo (RI), Italy. PI: Professor Cecilia Conati Barbaro, University of Rome La Sapienza.
2017 – 2019 Member of the Archaeological Mission in the Sahara : field and laboratory activities in Central and Southern Tunisia (Douz, Kébili). PI: Prof. Savino di Lernia, University of Rome La Sapienza.
2017 Molise Survey Project: Archaeological Survey at Frosolone (IS), Italy. PI: Professor Alberto Cazzella, University of Rome La Sapienza.
2016 Archaeological excavation: Riparo Blanc, San Felice Circeo (LT), Italy. PI: Professor Margherita Mussi, University of Rome La Sapienza.
2013 Archaeological excavation: Santuario della Bona Dea, Archaeological Site of Ostia Antica (RM), Italy. PI: Professor Maura Medri, University of Roma Tre.
2013 Archaeological excavation: roman villa of Messignè, Nus (AO), Italy. Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Valle d'Aosta region.
Employement history
2020 - Contract Archaeology: ARCHEO DOMUS S.r.l.s., Via Amsterdam, 75, 00144 Rome, Italy.
2019 Self-employment contract: topographic recording of archaeological sites and materials from Wadi Lazalim archaeological area (Kébili, Tunisia). University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
2019 Contract Archaeology: Dauniarchè S.C. a.r.l., Via Pescheria, 7, 71121, Foggia, Italy.
2018 – 2020 Contract Archaeology: GEA S.C. a.r.l., Via dello Statuto, 44, 00185 Rome, Italy.
2018 – 2020 Tour guide in Rome: Travel agency and Tour operator Turtle Tour, Piazza Mattei, 11, 00186 Rome, Italy.
2018 – 2019 Tour guide and cultural mediator: Real Academia de España en Roma, Piazza di San Pietro in Montorio, 3, 00153 Rome, Italy.
2017 University contract: Library of Ancient World Studies, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
2014 Internship for a museum project development: Université Européenne des Senteurs et des Saveurs, Couvent des Cordeliers 04300 Forcalquier, France.
Conferences
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• Scancarello, O., Davtian, G., Ménard, C., Mologni, C., Khalidi, L., 2025. “Obsidian exploitation and lithic production in the Early Holocene of Central Afar, Ethiopia”. 27th Biennial Meeting of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA): Faro, Portugal: 21-26 July 2025.
• Pruvost, C., Fusco, M., Habte, B., Scancarello, O., Bader, G., 2025. Session: “ Beyond traditional labels: Multidisciplinary perspectives on transitions in Africa during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene.” 27th Biennial Meeting of the Society of Africanist Archaeologists (SAfA), Faro, Portugal: 21 – 26 July 2025.
• Scancarello, O., Maiorano, M.P., 2024. Session : “Across deserts and seas : tempos and modes of Neolithization in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula”. 30th EAA Annual Meeting, Rome, Italy: 28 – 31 August 2024.
• Khalidi, L., Scancarello, O., Davtian, G., Ménard, C., A., Gratuze, 2024. “Obsidian fingerprinting and backed geometrics : tracking mobility and the advent of herding in Arabia and the Horn of Africa”. 30th EAA Annual Meeting, Rome, Italy: 28 – 31 August 2024.
• Scancarello, O., Khalidi, L., 2024. Poster : “1000 years of Mid-Late Holocene lithic technical traditions from two Neolithic sites in the Central Afar (Ethiopia, ca. 4.3-3.3 ka).” Eastern Africa Association of Palaeoanthropologists and Palaeontologists (EAAPP), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: 28 july – 1 August 2024.
• Khalidi, L., Davtian, G., Gabriele, M., Gioncada, A., Gratuze, B., Lesur, J., Ménard, C., Mologni, C., Pagli, C., Scancarello, O., Engda Redae, B., 2023. “Obsidian circulation and prehistoric mobility in the Afar, Ethiopia: from the Late Stone Age to the advent of herding (11-3 ka).” International Obsidian Conference (IOC), Engaru, Japan: 3 – 6 July 2023.
• Scancarello, O., Lemorini, C., 2022. “Can we rely on non-standardized experimental approaches dealing with stone tools surface alteration? Issues concerning experimental protocols set up.” EAA 28th Annual Meeting of European Association for Archaeologists, Budapest, Hungary: 31 August – 3 September 2022.
• Cancellieri, E., Belhouchet, L., Ben Fraj, T., di Matteo, M., Mekki, H., Mercier, N., Richard, M., Scancarello, O., Trabelsi, K., Zerboni, A., di Lernia, S., 2022. “The early Middle Stone Age sequence of Wadi Lazalim in southern Tunisia in the context of late Middle Pleistocene hominin occupation of NW Africa.” 16th Congress of the Pan African Archaeological Association for Prehistory and related studies, Zanzibar, Tanzania: 7-12 August 2022.
• Scancarello, O., Lemorini, C., 2022. “Evaluating the effects of water transport in the development of post-depositional surface alterations on flint artifacts: an experimental approach.” EAStS – Experimental Archaeology Student Symposium, Liverpool, UK: 9-10 June 2022.
• di Matteo, M., Rotunno, R., Scancarello, O., di Lernia, S., 2021. “Pots and bones: taphonomic and spatial analysis of the Middle Holocene pastoral occupation at Takarkori rock shelter (Tadrart Acacus, Libya)”. XIXth world UISPP Congress, Meknès, Morocco: 2-7 September 2021.
• di Matteo, M., Scancarello, O., Rotunno, R., Alhaique, F., Van Neer, W., di Lernia, S., 2021. “Intra-site
spatial analysis to understand past foodways: the case of the Early Holocene occupation at Takarkori (SW Libya)”. SAFA 25th biennial meeting: African Archaeology – a 20:20 vision for the future, Oxford, UK: 15-20 August 2021.
• Scancarello, O., 2020. “Metodi integrati per il controllo cronostratigrafico e l’interpretazione di strutture in pietra. Un esempio dal sito di Takarkori, Libia sud-occidentale”. Spring Archaeology, Siena, Italy: 15-17 May 2020.
Publications
Cancellieri, E., Bel Hadj Brahim, H., Ben Nasr, J., Ben Fraj, T., Boussoufara, R., di Matteo, M., Mercier, N., Marnaoui, M., Monaco, A., Richard, M., Mariani, G. S., Scancarello, O., Zerboni, A., di Lernia, S., 2022. “A late Middle Pleistocene Middle Stone Age sequence identified at Wadi Lazalim in southern Tunisia”. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1-12. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07816-x
Scancarello, O., Gallinaro, M., di Lernia, S., 2021. “Site Organization and Mobility Strategies: The Early and Middle Holocene Stone Structures from Takarkori Rock Shelter (Southwestern Libya)”. Journal of Field Archaeology, 1-19. DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2021.2009214
Scancarello, O., 2021. “Metodi integrati per il controllo cronostratigrafico e l’interpretazione di strutture in pietra. Un esempio dal sito di Takarkori, Libia sud‐occidentale”. In: Spring Archaeology: Atti del Convegno, Siena, 15-17 maggio 2020, edited by A. Bellotti, L. Luppino, M. Messineo, and M. Scarcella, 53-61. Access Archaeology. Archaeopress, Oxford. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1zcm1x8
Allocated grants
2025 Bando di Avvio alla Ricerca, University of Rome La Sapienza. Amount : 1170 euros
2024 – 2025 Mobility Grant 2024 VINCI, Université Franco-Italienne (UFI), Amount : 4.175 euros
2023 – 2024 Bourse pour la recherche doctorale, Fondation Martine Aublet, Musée du Quai Branly, Amount : 15.000 euros
2023 Mobility Grant 2023 GDR Rift, CNRS. Amount : 1400 euros
2023 Appui à la formation doctorale 2023, EUR ODYSEE, Université Côtes d’Azur, CNRS. Amount : 1000 euros
2023 Fieldwork Grant 2023, Centre français des études éthiopiennes (CFEE). Amount : 850 euros
Other activities
Member of the following projects :
• Volcanological and Archaeological Program for Obsidian Research (VAPOR-Afar), dir. L. Khalidi.
• Tracing the first herders in East Africa. Cultural, Symbolic, and Historical Trajectories in the Borana Zone (Southern Ethiopia), dir. M. Gallinaro
Reviewer for the following journals :
• PLOS ONE
Research skills
• Excavation and survey.
• Topographic recording by the use of total station.
• Lithic (stone tools) analysis (macroscopic and microscopic).
• Spatial analysis distribution and data treatment including graphic elaboration and the use of QGIS and ARcGIS software.
• Illustration, photography and image processing (Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop).
• Database elaboration (Microsoft Excel).
Research interest
• African Archaeology.
• Stone tools analysis, including technology, taphonomy, and traceology.
• Cultural responses to environmental changes, population dynamics and mobility pattern in arid zones.
• Timing and modalities of the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to pastoral communities at the onset of the Holocene in Africa.
• Microwear analysis and edge damage/alteration of lithic tools for the understanding of taphonomic processes.