Research Themes

Archaeology and Prehistory

• Paleoanthropology, evolution of the hominids and Homo;
• Archaeology and multidisciplinary studies of Middle and Late Stone Ages, Iron Age and historical archaeology;
• Rock art.

Medieval, Early Modern and Contemporary History of Southern African Societies

• Long distance connections, integration of Southern Africa in Atlantic and Indian Ocean circulations, material and cultural circulations since the first millennium CE;
• Social history, imperial history, social and racial hierarchies, slavery;
• Current issues of memory in Southern Africa, historical régimes, construction of fields and categories.

Contemporary Dynamics: Urban Studies, Democratic and Economic Transformations

• Geography and urban studies, historical development of Southern African cities, governance, access to public services, security, spatial justice, right to the city, city memory;
• Migration studies, borders, xenophobia;
• Democratic mutations in Southern Africa, electoral dynamics, citizenship and its transformation, identity policies, nation-building processes;
• Resources, economic policy, comparative development economics, labor;
• Education, youth, social movement.