BrainMap

Cristina Ioana Covataru

MA

Research Assistant - UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

PhD student

Expertise & keywords

Mapping the Prehistoric Waterscape from Southern Romania (7000-3000 cal. BC). Natural water supply and cultural water demand in the past Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie, 2020
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2369 2021 - 2023

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://unibuc.ro/cercetare/promovarea-rezultatelor-cercetarii/proiecte-de-cercetare/proiecte-cu-finantare-nationala/waterscape/

Abstract:

Investigations of the water in an archaeological context and searches for connections between natural water supply, natural hydrological conditions, and socio-cultural developments of human societies in the past is a real challenge for contemporary research. However, despite the apparent simplicity of water notion when we talk about human civilizations of the past, it had multidimensional connotations, which are transposed into various and differentiated elements of analysis (economic impact, hazards, human resilience, mobility, palaeoecologically niches, etc.). Thus, approaching a topic like the one proposed by the current project is difficult and challenging, involving complex multidisciplinary analyses, at the border of several disciplines (archaeology, geography, biology, etc.).

The project aim is to identify the complex interface between water and the human communities from Southern Romania for a period of 4000 years (7000-3000 BC). It will focus on the natural water availability, carrying capacity of environments, and aspects of variability in the hydrological system in correlation with human settlements location. We will take in consideration the adaptation and management strategies of different past societies, and the resilience or vulnerability of certain societies to hydrological hazards. Moreover, the project will address some side issues as the role of diet based on aquatic resources in life of the humans, and their palaeoeconomical impact in the target time span.

Sine Qua Non: Calibration of radiocarbon ages and correction of the freshwater reservoir effect in Southeastern Romania Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-4171 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: https://calib-ro.unibuc.ro/

Abstract:

The freshwater reservoir effect (FRE) can result in anomalously old radiocarbon ages of the samples from lakes and rivers, and it strongly affects radiocarbon dates, sometimes the age offsets reaching even up to 10,000 years.

The project “Sine Qua Non: Calibration of radiocarbon ages and correction of the freshwater reservoir effect in Southeastern Romania” aims to examine the order of magnitude and degree of variability (spatial and temporal) of the FRE over short and long timescales in Lower Danube Basin, in the segment Vedea River - Danube Delta. Based on the sophisticated proxies available for the targeted area, and combined AMS radiocarbon dating with stable isotopes analysis (δ13C, and δ15N) along with OSL and Archaeomagnetic dating (for correction of 14C data) we will develop a local calibration curve for that FRE phenomenon and open-source calibration software. It will be made using R statistical environment (Bchron and rcarbon packages), based on the construction of some complex age-data models that will integrate 14C dates obtained both on samples from archaeological sites or geological core, but also on contemporary samples analyzed from the target area. Moreover, in order to estimate correctly the spatial variability and distribution of the FRE a geospatial integration of data (14C, OSL, Archaeomagnetic) resulting from the field works (archaeological sites and cores) will be made.

This proposal is an original approach for Romania that has not been realized so far. It will provide a reliable instrument for establishing the absolute correct ages for different archaeological finds, and it will become an essential tool for further geology and ecology studies as well.

A consortium of 2 institutions will implement the project: the ArchaeoScience#RO Platform of the Research Institute of the University of Bucharest as Coordinator, and „Horia Hulubei” National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering as Partner Organization.

Multidisciplinary platform for integrative and systematic research of tangible and non-tangible cultural heritage and identities in Romania Call name: P 1 - SP 1.2 - Proiecte complexe realizate in consorții CDI
PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0686 2018 - 2021

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL DE ARHEOLOGIE "VASILE PIRVAN" (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA " HORIA HULUBEI " - IFIN - HH (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE VEST TIMISOARA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE IN INFORMATICA - ICI BUCURESTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA OVIDIUS (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DIN ORADEA (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://patcultro.unibuc.ro

Abstract:

The present project represents an original approach, from an inter-, pluri-, multi- and transdisciplinary perspective of the 6th domains - Patrimony and cultural identity. Through the structure of the consortium, the management of the project, the objectives proposed by the component projects, through the synergies and complementarities obtained, undoubtedly presents a high degree of feasibility, being a sophisticated, integrative and exhaustive approach for Romania. Its results will have an impact both on the national and international scientific communities, but also on the broad public, contributing through the proposed activities to the consolidation, development, and improvement of the RDI system in our country, and indirectly to the training of the future specialists from the Romanian research.

The final goal of the project is to create a complex interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary platform for integrated and systematic research of tangible and non-tangible cultural identities and heritage in Romania.

The consortium that will implement this complex project is coordinated by the University of Bucharest (CO-UB), in partnership with the "Vasile Parvan" Institute of Archeology of the Romanian Academy (P1-IAB), the National Institute for Research and Development for Physics and Nuclear Engineering " Horia Hulubei "(P2-IFIN-HH)," Al. I. Cuza "University of Iasi (P3-UAIC), West University of Timisoara (P4-UVT), National Institute of Research and Development for Material Physics (P5-INCDFM), the "Ovidius" University of Constanta (P6-UOC) and the University of Oradea (P7-UO). The way of geographic distribution at the level of Romania ensures a good regional representation of the legal entities represented within the consortium in this project. The combination of five universities and three national research institutes is the ideal combination to support and implement such a complex project.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects