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Francesca Cornella

Francesca Cornella is a PhD student in Archaeology. Her project title is "Pastoralism and Landscape Evolution: Digital Geoarchaeology in Mountain Environments"

Project Title

Pastoralism and Landscape Evolution: Digital Geoarchaeology in Mountain Environments

Academic Supervisors

  • Francesco Carrer
  • Tim Kinnaird (St Andrews University)
  • Prof Lisa-Marie Shillito (Durham University)

Project Description

Long-term pastoral strategies, from prehistory to the present, have influenced the evolution of mountains and triggered landscape changes over time. However, the extent of these dynamics is still poorly understood. Focusing on the high-altitude pastures of the Silvretta mountain range in Switzerland, my research will provide new insights into the relationship between pastoral practices and environmental vulnerability.

Adopting a novel interdisciplinary approach that integrates landscape modelling with geoarchaeology, my project aims to understand how pastoralism has influenced the long-term evolution of mountain landscapes, revealing the mechanisms through which pastoral strategies and upland landscapes have co-evolved. The study will also demonstrate how environmental archaeology can provide relevant insights into long-term processes to inform sustainable landscape management.

Funding awards

  • AHRC Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership Studentship Award (2025-2029).

Publications

Chapters in books:

  • Angelucci D.E., Armellini J., Cornella F. & Zambaldi M., 2022. Il sito protostorico e romano del Doss Penede: aspetti geoarcheologici: pp. 24-31. In: E. Vaccaro (a cura), Progetto Doss Penede. Archeologia di un insediamento d’altura nell’area altogardesana (Nago-Torbole, TN) tra Protostoria ed età romana (scavi e ricerche 2019-2021), Quasar, Roma, 2022 [ISBN: 978-88-5491-316-5].
  • Angelucci D.E., Carrer F., Cornella F., Croce E. & Dell'Amore F., 2023. Risorse idriche e ambiente montano: uno studio di caso dalla Val Molinac (Trento): pp. 81-91. In: Angelucci D.E., Croce E., Migliavacca M. & Saggioro F. (a cura). Montagne e Archeologie. All'Insegna del Giglio, 2023 [ISBN: 9788892852181]. https://www.insegnadelgiglio.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9788892852198.pdf

Scientific papers:

Scientific reports:

Conference papers:

  • Cornella F., Carrer F., Kinnaird T., Reitmaier T., Shillito L-M., accepted. Human interaction with Alpine soils: A Digital Geoarchaeological approach. LAC 2026 – Landscape Archaeology Conference, Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg, Germany, 18-21 Mar. 2026.
  • Cornella F., Angelucci D.E., Carrer F., Croce E. 2025. Digital Geoarchaeology: Un approccio interdisciplinare per l’archeologia montana e ambientale. DIG.IT – Nuove prospettive per l’archeologia digitale in Italia, 25 May 2025, University of Milan, Italy.
  • Angelucci D.E. & Cornella F. 2023. Microscopy Live Session on “Mountain sites, human impact on the upland, and cave deposits in the Alpine area” (broadcasted from the LaBAAF, unitn, Italy, on 26 Apr.). ViMi4 - Fourth Virtual Micromorphology Meeting, 26-27 Apr. 2023 (organized by the University of Algarve, Portugal).

Qualifications

  • MA Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale) in Quaternary, Prehistory and Archaeology. 2021-2024 – University of Ferrara (interuniversity degree with University of Trento, University of Verona, University of Modena - Reggio Emilia), Italy.

Thesis dissertation in Digital Geoarchaeology: “Prehistoric human impact on the Alpine uplands: A pilot study from Val di Sole (Trento, Italy)”.

Mark: 110/110 cum laude with mention of ‘dignity of publication’.

Awards:

    • Dissertation recognised as ‘being of interest for historical and cultural aspects of the Trentino region’. Granted by Soprintendenza per i Beni e le Attività Culturali Provincia Autonoma di Trento, (IT), 2024.
    • Dissertation Award by Associazione Lagarina di Storia Antica, Trento, (IT), 2024.
    • Dissertation Award by Centro Studi per la Val di Sole, Trento (IT), 2024.
  • BA in Cultural Heritage – Archaeology. 2019-2021 – University of Trento, Italy.

Thesis dissertation in Landscape Archaeology: “The exploitation of water resources in mountain environments. Census and analysis of irrigation canals in Val Molinac (Ortisé, Mezzana, TN).”

Mark: 110/110 cum laude.

Awards:

    • Dissertation Award by Centro Studi per la Val di Sole, Trento (IT), 2022.

Research interests:

Disciplines:

  • Environmental Archaeology
  • Mountain Archaeology
  • Landscape Archaeology
  • Geoarchaeology
  • Digital Geoarchaeology
  • Landscape Modelling
  • Historical Ecology
  • Soil Science

Themes:

  • Landscape Dynamics
  • Socio-Ecological Systems
  • Human-Environment Interactions
  • Pastoral Systems
  • Soil Loss
  • Environmental Changes
  • Niche Construction

Other Roles

Fieldwork experience:

Taking part in archaeological surveys and excavations since 2019. Experience in preventive commercial archaeology refined in 2025. 

Geoarchaeological experience:

Contributing to the geoarchaeological study of various sites (ALPES Project, University of Trento; PAACTe Project, GEODE University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès; NUPP Project, Colgate University; Colombare di Negrar, University of Milan; Sesto Calende, University of Milan). Extensive experience in geoarchaeology of mountain environments (in part., Alps and Pyrenees).

Conferences:

Participation in international conferences through the presentation of conference papers and the organization of sessions.

Research projects:

Participation in archaeological research projects across universities from Europe and the UK. 

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