Vana Orfanou, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, Schellingstrasse 12, 80799 Munich, +49 (0)89-2180-5360; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Vana Orfanou is an archaeological scientist studying metallurgical and other inorganic materials. Vana’s heart truly lies with copper. She completed her PhD on Early Iron Age Greek copper-based technology linked to sanctuary deposits in 2015 at UCL. Since then, she has worked with metallurgical assemblages covering a broad spectrum of periods and cultures in Europe, the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia from the Middle Bronze Age to late medieval times. Some of the things Vana has analysed include Viking Age crucibles, Bronze Age swords, Byzantine rings, Islamic candlesticks, Iron Age brooches, and Roman coins. Currently, Vana is looking at metallurgical technology from the Greek mainland to better understand the impact of profound and irreversible socio-political change at the end of the Bronze Age. What brings all this together is Vana’s enthusiasm for unravelling past people’s worldviews through technological insights.

Through her role as the SAS Vice President for Social Media, Vana aspires to promote the community of archaeological scientists and support early career researchers from all backgrounds.