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My research is mainly focused on animal husbandry, bird exploitation, taphonomy and climate change.

In the last four years, I have dedicated particular attention to the study of bird remains from the Roman period to the end of the Middle Ages in Italy. My studies were also concentrated on the analyses of amphibians and reptiles from domestic as well as ritual contexts.

I have worked as part of several international research teams as the zooarchaeologist in charge of projects in both Italy and Jordan.

I have studied the diet of the Crusaders and husbandry patterns in the Petra Valley.

Recently I have also worked in the north of Jordan, working on the zooarchaeology of the Mamluk period.

In Italy my studies have focused mainly on the comparison between urban and rural sites in Tuscany (central Italy) and on landscape modifications and animal exploitation in Basilicata (southern Italy).

My main areas of interest include-

• Animal husbandry
• Exploitation of birds
• Middle East fauna
• Ritual use of animals
• Biometry
• Taphonomy

Research projects / collaborations

• 2013 – Present- ‘Madaba Plain Project’, Byzantine/Mamluk period, Faunal analyst at Tell Hesban (Jordan),
  • Project Directors- Prof Oystein La Binaca (Andrews University), Prof Bethany Walker (University of Bonn).
• 2012 – Present- “Cetamura del Chianti (Tuscany, Italy)”. Etruscan – Roman period. (University of State of Florida)
• 2011 – 2012- “Torre di Satriano (Basilicata, Italy)”. Archaic period.
  • Project Director- Prof Massimo Osanna (School of Specialization in Archaeology of Matera, University of Basilicata, Italy).
• 2009 – 2010- “VII Regio. Elsa Valley during the Roman Age and Late Antiquity”
  • Project Director- Prof Marco Cavalieri (Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium).
• 2005 – 2007- “Medieval Petra. Archaeology of the Crusader-Ayyubid settlement in Transjordan”
  • Project Director- Prof Guido Vannini (University of Florence, Italy).