Short Presentation
Palmira Saladie is a recognized researcher in the field of
Human Evolution, affiliated with the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology
and Social Evolution (IPHES) since 2009. Her career has been defined by an
unwavering pursuit of excellence, with contributions spanning archaeology,
zoology, and paleontology. She is dedicated to unraveling the complex
relationship between prehistoric populations and the animal world of the past,
always with a pronounced anthropological focus. Over the past decade, her work
has yielded groundbreaking insights into European prehistory, making
significant advances in areas such as Paleolithic subsistence, human
cannibalism, and taphonomic frameworks, while also shedding light on human
dispersals during the Pleistocene, the management of territorial resources, and
technological innovations among prehistoric communities.
Her scientific journey began in 1993, when she participated
as a practicum student on the excavation teams at the Abric Romaní and
Atapuerca sites?two landmark projects at IPHES. Since then, she has
demonstrated steadfast commitment by evolving from a participant to co-director
at Abric Romaní since 2015, and by serving as co-coordinator of the Gran Dolina
excavations in the Sierra de Atapuerca. Additionally, since 2004, she has
co-directed the Barranc de la Boella site, where she leads and coordinates both
research and financial management. In these projects, she has also taken on
substantial responsibilities in human resource management, overseeing volunteer
selection, coordinating internships, and arranging accommodations. The
management of the Atapuerca excavations, involving up to 300 participants
annually and facing added challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been
successfully maintained through rigorous protocols and testing, underscoring
her dedication to scientific progress. In this role, she has acted as a vital
link among various universities (URV, UCM, UBU, UZa), public foundations
(IPHES), research centers (CENIEH), and private foundations (Atapuerca
Foundation).
With 173 publications?most of them international?and
collaborations with 238 co-authors from numerous national and international
institutions, her scientific output stands as a testament to her commitment to
deepening and disseminating knowledge about Human Evolution. The recent
publications over the past four years further highlight her commitment to
open-access science. Since 2003, she has participated in more than 30
competitive R&D&I projects, securing over 5 million Euros in funding
from national plans, European and Canadian councils, and private foundations
(e.g., Fundación Palarq, Leakey Foundation). Moreover, she has established
enduring financial agreements with the councils of La Canonja and Capellades,
ensuring financial support for research at Abric Romaní and Barranc de la
Boella since 2015.
Her global reach is evident through numerous collaborations,
including projects undertaken beyond IPHES. A key node in her professional
network is the Department of Paleobiology at the National Museum of Natural
Sciences in Madrid. She has engaged in international projects in the United
Kingdom, Morocco, and Ethiopia, and has made significant contributions through
collaborations with institutions such as the University of Barcelona,
Complutense University, Autonomous University of Barcelona, National University
of Distance Education, University of Jaén, Alcalá de Henares University, the
National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH), the National
Archaeological Museum of Poland in Krakow, the Natural History Museum in
London, the Centre national de la recherche scientifique in France, and the
Musée de l'Homme in Paris.
Currently, Palmira Saladie is a member of the IPHES
Subsistence, Technology, and Human Evolution research group, funded by the
Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, and collaborates on four
projects financed by the Department of Heritage of the Generalitat de
Catalunya. She also co-leads research lines related to subsistence (taphonomy
and zooarchaeology) and molecular archaeology (isotopic research). On the
international stage, she collaborates with several institutions; notably, she
is involved in the Stone Tools, Diet, and Sociality project, funded by the
Social Science and Humanities Research Council of the Government of Canada and
centered on the UNESCO World Heritage site of Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, led by
Professor Julio Mercader. Additionally, from January 2023 to December 2027, she
serves as a contributing expert in the LATEUROPE project, led by Professor
Marie-Helene Moncel and funded by the European Research Council, with
operations hosted by the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
In the realm of knowledge transfer, she serves as the
Principal Investigator (in coordination with Josep Vallverdú) for the Operació
Mamut ? PECT TurisTIC project. This initiative focuses on developing the
museographic and executive project for the Mammuthus Center (La Canonja,
Tarragona, Spain), funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
under the territorial specialization and competitiveness projects (PECT) call
and framed within RIS3CAT, with a funding of 300,000 Euros. Set to open its doors
in the coming months, the center aims to become an integral extension of IPHES
in the Camp de Tarragona region, leveraging its geographical proximity to host
scientific meetings and other strategic events.
In recent years, Palmira Saladie has been a member of the
María de Maeztu Steering Committee (MMSC), tasked with supervising and
monitoring the development of the "María de Maeztu" research program
at IPHES. She has coordinated and written the report for the declaration of the
Cinglera del Capelló (Capellades) as a Cultural Asset of National Interest, and
the project submitted for the III National Prize for Archaeology and
Paleontology by the Palarq Foundation?aimed at financing research on the wood
technology at Abric Romaní?was one of the finalists.
Academically, her role as an associate professor at URV since 2015 extends beyond teaching to include supervising doctoral theses, Masters Final Projects, and undergraduate final projects. Since earning her doctorate in 2009, she has supervised five doctoral theses and is currently mentoring three more. Her students have advanced their research through pre-doctoral contracts funded by the Spanish government (FPI and FPU), the Catalan government (FI), the Portuguese government, and the Erasmus Mundus program of the European Union within the International Doctorate in Quaternary and Prehistory. Two of her students have received international awards?the Tübingen Research 2015 Prize and the Emilie Campmas 2020 Prize?reflecting her commitment to nurturing emerging talent. Her mentorship has also led to the development of a research line at IPHES focused on anthropology and forensic taphonomy.
Research Fields
Research areas (short description)
Academic training