Research

My research focuses on the application of digital methods and scientific techniques for the study of the archaeological heritage of Sicily and Malta and the historical monumental heritage and museum collections of Florida

Archaeology of Sicily

My interest in the archaeology of Sicily is anchored in four main long standing research projects:

  • Technology and trade in the Middle and Late Bronze Age (mid 15th – mid 11th century BCE)
  • Religion and society in the Iron Age (mid 11th – mid 8th century BCE)
  • The materiality of death and the Greek society of Siracusa in the Archaic period
  • Religious and funerary hybridization practices in the Late Roman Catacombs of Santa Lucia at Siracusa

Latest publication

D. Tanasi, C. Veca (eds) 2019, Incontri e Mobilita’ nel Mediterraneo preistorico. Le necropoli siciliane di Cozzo del Pantano e Matrensa, British Archaeological Report International Series 2950, Oxford: BAR Publishing. ISBN 9781407356457.

Archeology of Malta

  • Pottery production, socio-political development and external relations during the Middle/Late and Iron Age (Borg in Nadur culture, end of 15th – mid 8th centuty BCE)

Latest publication

D.  Tanasi, D. Cardona (eds) 2020, The Maltese Archipelago at the dawn of history. Reassessment of the 1909 and 1959 excavations at Qlejgħa tal-Baħrija and other essays, Oxford: Archaeopress. ISBN 9781789694932.

Archaeological Sciences

  • Petrographic study and destructive and non-destructive chemical characterization of Prehistoric and Roman pottery from Sicily and Malta
  • Non-destructive chemical characterization of Prehistoric metals items from Malta
  • Destructive and non-destructive chemical characterization of Roman glasses from Sicily
  • Chemical characterization of organic residues on Prehistoric pottery from Sicily and Malta
  • Stable isotopes analysis on skeletal remains from Roman Sicily
  • Radiocarbon dating on skeletal remains from Prehistoric Sicily and Malta

Latest publication

D. Tanasi, R. H. Tykot, S. Hassam, A. Vianello 2019, The Emergence of Copper-Based Metallurgy in the Maltese Archipelago in the Maltese Archipelago: an archaeometric perspective, in STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, pp. 1-11.

Digital Archaeology

  • Virtualization via 3D Digital Imaging and global digital sharing of the Sicilian archaeological heritage and museum collections
  • Virtualization via 3D Digital Imaging and visualization of Roman mansions of Sicily (Villa del Casale, Durrueli, Caddeddi) and Malta (Rabat)
  • Virtualization via 3D Digital Imaging and visualization of Roman Catacombs of Santa Lucia at Siracusa
  • Virtualization via 3D Digital Imaging and global digital sharing of the collections of the Tampa Bay Area museums
  • Virtualization via 3D Digital Imaging, visualization and global digital sharing of Florida historical monumental heritage
  • 3D modelling and digital media production for the global digital sharing of the Italian archaeological heritage

Latest publication

D. Tanasi 2020, The Digital (within) Archaeology. Analysis of a phenomenon, in The Historian 82.1, pp. 22-36.

Grants and Awards

Grants

  • University of South Florida, Humanities Institute Summer Grant (2021)
  • Estelle Shohet Brettman Scholarship (International Catacombs Society) (2020, 2017, 2015)
  • University of South Florida New Researcher Grant
  • University of South Florida Humanities Institute
  • University of South Florida Conference Support Grant
  • The Shelby White – Leon Levy Program for Archaeological Publications (Harvard University) (2010, 2013, 2017)
  • Mediterranean Archaeological Trust (2012, 2013, 2014)
  • Institute for Aegean Prehistory of Philadelphia (INSTAP) (2009, 2010, 2011)

Awards

  • University of South Florida Sabbatical Committee, Sabbatical Award 2022-2023
  • University of South Florida Research and Innovation – Faculty Outstanding Research Achievement Award 2020
  • University of South Florida – USF World – Certificate of Global Achievement 2018 – Honorable Mention
  • University of South Florida Nexus Initiative (UNI) Award 2018
  • University of South Florida Research and Innovation – Faculty Outstanding Research Achievement Award 2018
  • University of South Florida – USF World – Certificate of Global Achievement 2017
  • 4th International Scientific Film Festival of Universities and Research Authorities of Rome, Italy (Docscient 2014) – First prize for best scientific documentary for the documentary “Siracusa 3D Reborn” in the category ‘Animated Films’
  • Vienna Cultural Heritage and New Technologies Video Award 2013 – First prize or the documentary “Siracusa 3D Reborn”

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