Principal Investigator

Dott. Omar Larentis

I am the principal investigator of the GERANI project at the University of Trento, and the coordinator of the Centre of Research in Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology at the University of Insubria. In my research, I integrate my multidisciplinary expertise in archaeology, osteology, and paleopathology to address key archaeological questions. After obtaining my degrees in Archaeology from the University of Trento (2018), I successfully completed my PhD in Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Medical Humanities at the University of Insubria (2021). Thus, after two years of postdoctoral research at Insubria, I returned to Trento to work on the GERANI project. My doctoral research focused on the death rituals and funeral rites of the Golasecca Civilization, employing an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the entire available osteological sample. Following my PhD, I continued my academic pursuits as a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Osteoarchaeology and Paleopathology (CROP) at the University of Insubria, investigating osteoarchaeological samples of both inhumed and cremated individuals from various sites. My research interests primarily revolve around the anthropological analysis of pre and protohistoric human remains. Using macroscopic, microscopic, radiological and molecular methods, I aim to reconstruct the biological profiles of individuals, discern patterns of patocenosis, examine body treatment practices, and investigate funerary customs. Through these endeavors, I seek to elucidate the quality of life and behaviors of past societies, providing insights into socio-cultural transformations and demographic fluctuations on a supra-regional scale. As an archaeologist, I have actively participated in excavations in Italy and Eritrea, collaborating with specialists including physicists, geochemists, and mathematicians. These collaborations underscore the growing importance of quantitative approaches within the fields of arts, humanities, and social sciences, emphasizing the fluidity of interdisciplinary boundaries. I have been invited to contribute to international workshops and conferences, and have published numerous papers in esteemed peer-reviewed journals.