Prof. Dr. Maxime Rageot

My research in biomolecular archaeology aims to extend our knowledge of the crafts, exchanges and consumption practices surrounding biological resources in ancient societies. The study of organic residues (lipids and second metabolites) is particularly appropriate to address these questions, as it allows us to apprehend a wide range of resources, whether of animal origins (fats from various terrestrial or marine animals, dairy products, bee products, etc.) and plant origins (oils/essential oils, waxes, resins, tars, fermented beverages, etc.). Thus, the analysis of ancient biomolecules can provide insights into various activities related to diet/cuisine and body care (therapeutic, cosmetic and embalming practices). In addition to providing evidence into subsistence strategies, the practices/activities related to organic products can also implicate technical know-how, knowledge of the natural environment and integration into trade networks.

The chrono-geographical contexts concerned, Europe and the Mediterranean regions from the 6th to the 1st millennium BCE, enable me to work on the changing of the practices over the long term, while also opening up specific windows of study to address questions of functional and cultural variability by identifying areas of exchange of products and processes. I am also seeking to develop a complementary approach combining ethnographic documentation, experimental productions and chemical analyses to characterise (molecular) markers of the exploitation of natural environments and the activities related to the transformation of biological resources.

• Economy of ancient organic products
• Biomolecular archaeology
• Experimental Archaeology
• Food/drink consumption
• Therapeutic and embalming practices
• Object Manufacturing
• Europe and Mediterranean regions
• Neolithic to Iron Age

Academic Positions

Since 2024        Professor of biomolecular archaeology, University of Bonn, Germany

2019-2024        Lecturer in archaeological science, University of Tübingen, Germany

2022                 Postdoctoral fellow in biomolecular archaeology, CNRS-UCA, France

2018-2021        Postdoctoral fellow in biomolecular archaeology, LMU of Munich, Germany

2015-2018        Postdoctoral fellow in biomolecular archaeology, Univ. of Tübingen, Germany

2013-2014        Researcher and assistant lecturer in dept. of chemistry, Univ. Côte d’Azur, France

Education

2010-2015        Ph.D. in Prehistory (highest distinction), University Côte d’Azur, CEPAM, France

PhD fellow: CNRS/PACA region. Ph.D. Dissertation: Chemistry and archaeology of plant substances in Northwester Mediterranean (6th-1st mill. BCE), dir. M. Regert

2008-2010        M.S. in Molecular Chemistry, University of Rennes 1, France

2006-2007        B.S. in Chemistry, University of Rennes 1, France

2004-2007        Degree in History, University of Rennes 2, France

2004-2006        DUT in chemistry, University of Rennes 1, France

Since 2023: ANR Geprico: Gallic, Etruscan and Phocaean rites of commensality, Coord. D. Frère – University of Bretagne Sud. Contribution: Investigation of organic products used in rites of commensality.

Since 2021: ANR DFG : From Kura-Araxes to Early Kurgans. Tracing 3rd millennium social and cultural changes in the Kura River valley (Georgia and Azerbaijan). Environment, food, chronology, dir. G. Palumbi – CNRS-UMR 7264, Nice Nizza & Sven Hansen – DAI Berlin. Contribution: of consumption practices, diet preparation and pottery functions.

Patrizi, G., Rageot, M., Cafisso, S., Pennetta, A., Fiorini, L., De Benedetto, G.E., Spiteri, C. & Fiorentino, G. (2024) Signs of the sacred at the sanctuary of Gravisca, Italy: reconstruction of an Etruscan ritual through a multidisciplinary approach. Archaeometry, 1-3.

Rageot, M., Hussein, R.B., Beck, S., Altmann-Wendling, V., Ibrahim, M.I.M., Bahgat, M.M., Yousef, A.M., Mittelstaedt, K., Filippi, J.-J., Buckley, S., Spiteri, C. & Stockhammer, P.W. (2023) Biomolecular analyses enable new insights into ancient Egyptian embalming. Nature, 614, 287-293.

Kabaciński, J., Henry, A., David, É., Rageot, M., Cheval, C., Winiarska-Kabacińska, M., Regert, M., Mazuy, A. & Orange, F. (2023) Expedient and efficient: an Early Mesolithic composite implement from Krzyż Wielkopolski. Antiquity, 1-19.

Rageot, M., Lepère, C., Henry, A., Binder, D., Davtian, G., Filippi, J.-J., Fernandez, X., Guilaine, J., Jallet, F., Radi, G., Thirault, E., Terradas, X. & Regert, M. (2021) Management systems of adhesive materials throughout the Neolithic in the North-West Mediterranean. Journal of Archaeological Science, 126, 105309.

Drieu, L., Rageot, M., Wales, N., Stern, B., Lundy, J., Zerrer, M., Gaffney, I., Bondetti, M., Spiteri, C., Thomas-Oates, J. & Craig, O.E. (2020) Is it possible to identify ancient wine production using biomolecular approaches? STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, 6, 16-29.

Regert, M., Rodet-Belarbi, I., Mazuy, A., Le Dantec, G., Dessì, R.M., Le Briz, S., Henry, A. & Rageot, M. (2019) Birch-bark tar in the Roman world: the persistence of an ancient craft tradition? Antiquity, 93, 1553-1568.

Rageot, M., Théry-Parisot, I., Beyries, S., Lepère, C., Carré, A., Mazuy, A., Filippi, J.-J., Fernandez, X., Binder, D. & Regert, M. (2019) Birch Bark Tar Production: Experimental and Biomolecular Approaches to the Study of a Common and Widely Used Prehistoric Adhesive. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 26, 276-312.

Rageot, M., Mötsch, A., Schorer, B., Gutekunst, A., Patrizi, G., Zerrer, M., Cafisso, S., Fries-Knoblach, J., Hansen, L., Tarpini, R., Krausse, D., Hoppe, T., Stockhammer, P.W. & Spiteri, C. (2019) The dynamics of Early Celtic consumption practices: A case study of the pottery from the Heuneburg. PLOS ONE, 14, e0222991.

Rageot, M., Mötsch, A., Schorer, B., Bardel, D., Winkler, A., Sacchetti, F., Chaume, B., Casa, P.D., Buckley, S., Cafisso, S., Fries-Knoblach, J., Krausse, D., Hoppe, T., Stockhammer, P.W. & Spiteri, C. (2019) New insights into Early Celtic consumption practices: Organic residue analyses of local and imported pottery from Vix-Mont Lassois. PLoS ONE, 14.

Rageot, M., Pêche-Quilichini, K., Py, V., Filippi, J.J., Fernandez, X. & Regert, M. (2016) Exploitation of Beehive Products, Plant Exudates and Tars in Corsica During the Early Iron Age. Archaeometry, 58, 315-332.