Newcastle University

Roles and Responsibilities

Coordinator of the Wolfson Archaeology Laboratory
School Erasmus Coordinator 

Qualifications

PhD in Archaeology, St. John's College, University of Cambridge
Post-Graduate Diploma in European Prehistory, University of Milan
First Degree in Classics and Archaeology, University of Milan

Previous Positions

2005 - Visiting Lecturer in European Prehistory, Continuing-Education University ‘Unigold’, Milan
2004-2005 - Field Instructor in the UG Summer Field School, University of Milan

Honours and Awards

2008 - Offered. Rome Fellowship, The British School at Rome
2003 - Italian Institute for Prehistory (IIPP), early-career researcher annual prize (best publication on Italian prehistory)

Research Interests

My research focuses on the interaction between material culture and society in prehistoric Europe and the Mediterranean. Under this broad rubric, my work concentrates on two main subjects: the Later Prehistory of the Central Mediterranean (in particular ancient technology, burial practices, household archaeology and the landscape) and prehistoric copper-alloy metallurgy. I have published extensively on both subjects.

Other Expertise

Use-wear analysis of copper-alloy metalwork
Methodology of archaeological survey and excavation

Current Work

My current research projects include:
- A Wet Landscape: The Orbetello lagoon (Central Italy) from the Palaeolithic to Roman times (with N. Negroni Catacchio and M. Cardosa, Milan University)
- Understanding the trade and exchange of Chalcolithic metalwork in the Italian Peninsula
- Technology, function and provenance of early Italian metalwork (with G. Artioli and I. Angelini, Padua University)

Future Research

I am currently working towards an AHRC funding application for a research project entitled 'Understanding the emergence of metallurgy in Europe: the biographical paradigm'. The project aims to explore the technological and social biographies of early metal objects in Bulgaria, Serbia and Italy.

I am also applying for networking funding to organise two international workshops on the prehistory of the Central Mediterranean (with J. Robb, Cambridge). This will lead to an edited volume on the same subject.

Postgraduate Supervision

I am keen to supervise doctoral students working on any of my research areas and in particular: the social dynamics of prehistoric technology and material culture; copper-alloy metallurgy in prehistoric Europe and the Mediterranean; death and burial in the ancient Mediterranean; and household archaeology. Informal enquires about research topics are encouraged.

Esteem Indicators

Invited talks at the following conferences and seminars:
- Cologne University, International Conference 'Economic Archaeology: From Structure to Performance', 9-11 June 2010.
- UCL, Accordia Research Workshop ' Rethinking the Italian Neolithic', 26 May 2010.
- UCL, Accordia Research Seminar 'The Archaeology of Death', 16March 2010.
- Durham, The Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, 9 January 2010.
- Oslo, Museum of Cultural History, International Conference 'Ritual Changes and Changing Rituals', 23-25 May 2008.
- Pitigliano (Italy), Centenary Conference 'The Rinaldone Culture Today: New Research and Discoveries', 17-18 September 2004.

Undergraduate Teaching

ARA1026 - Introduction to Archaeological Science
ARA2011 - Later European Prehistory (module leader: J. Harding)
ARA2101 - Artefacts (module leader: J. Gerrard)
ARA3100 - Later Mediterranean Prehistory

Postgraduate Teaching

ARA8035 - Understanding metalwork: an introduction to use-wear analysis
ARA8021 - Neolithic Europe (module leader: C. Fowler)
ARA8027 - Bronze Age Europe (module leader: J. Harding)

• Negroni-Catacchio N, Cardosa M, Dolfini A, ed. Paesaggi d’Acque. La Laguna di Orbetello tra Preistoria ed Età Romana. Milan: Centro Studi di Preistoria e Archeoologia, 2010. In Preparation.
• Dolfini A. The emergence of metallurgy in the Central Mediterranean region: A new model. European Journal of Archaeology 2012. Submitted.
• Dolfini A. The Neolithic beginnings of metallurgy in the central Mediterranean region. Accordia Research Papers 2011. Submitted.
• Dolfini A. Neolithic and Chalcolithic mortuary practices in the Italian peninsula: Change of meaning or change of medium?. In: J.R. Brandt, H. Ingvaldsen & M. Prusac, ed. Ritual Changes and Changing Rituals: Function and Meaning in Ancient Funerary Practices. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2011. Submitted.
• Dolfini A. The function of Chalcolithic metalwork in Italy: An assessment based on use-wear analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science 2011, 38(5), 1037-1049.
• Dolfini A. The Origins of Metallurgy in central Italy: New Radiometric Evidence. Antiquity 2010, 84(325), 707-723.
• Dolfini A. Early metallurgy in the central Mediterranean. In: Roberts, B;Thornton, C, ed. Early Metallurgy: A Global Reader. New York: Springer, 2010. In Press.
• Dolfini A, Aranguren B, Silvestrini M. La prima metallurgia in Italia centrale alla luce di nuove date radiometriche. In: Atti della 43° Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria. 2010, Florence: Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria. In Press.
• Dolfini A. Embodied inequalities: burial and social differentiation in Copper Age Central Italy. Archaeological Review from Cambridge 2006, 21(2), 58-77.
• Dolfini A, Dolci M, Ravasi T. Il survey della Laguna di Orbetello: per un’archeologia dei paesaggi relitti. In: Preistoria e Protostoria in Etruria. Atti dell’VIII Incontro di Studi. 2008, Milan: Centro Studi di Preistoria e Archeologia.
• Dolfini A, Malone C, Stoddart S. Searching for ritual in the Bronzo Finale: The example of Gubbio. In:Studi in onore di Renato Peroni . Florence: All'Insegna del Giglio, 2006, pp. 663-665.
• Dolfini A. L’inumazione primaria come sistema simbolico e pratica sociale. In: Atti del VII Incontro di Studi Preistoria e Protostoria in Etruria. 2006, Milan: Centro Studi di Preistoria e Archeologia.
• Dolfini A. La necropoli di Rinaldone (Montefiascone, Viterbo): rituale funerario e dinamiche sociali di una comunità eneolitica in Italia centrale. Bullettino di Paletnologia Italiana 2004, 95, 127-278.
• Dolfini A. Lo spazio abitativo come spazio sociale: le case di Sorgenti della Nova nel quadro della protostoria italiana. In: Papers in Italian Archaeology VI. 2005, Oxford: Archaeopress.
• Dolfini A. Le abitazioni a pianta ellittica del settore III. Milan: Centro Studi di Preistoria e Archeologia, 2002.